In vitro and in vivo efficacy of a novel nucleoside analog H44 against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Abstract

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a highly pathogenic tick-borne virus that causes fever, hemorrhage, and multi-organ failure, with an average fatality rate of ∼40% in humans. Currently, there are no available vaccines or drugs for the treatment of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Favipiravir (T-705), a nucleoside analog, protects against CCHFV infection in animal models. Here, we evaluated the anti-CCHFV efficacy of several nucleoside analogs, including some well-known compounds such as remdesivir (GS-5734), EIDD-1931 and its prodrug molnupiravir (EIDD-2801), as well as a novel T-705-derived compound H44. T-705, H44, and EIDD-1931 inhibited CCHFV infection in vitro while GS-5734 had no inhibitory effect. All three nucleoside analogs functioned at the "post-entry" stage of virus infection. However, EIDD-2801 failed to protect type I interferon receptor knockout (IFNAR)^-/- mice from CCHFV infection. H44, similar to T-705, conferred 100% protection to IFNAR^-/- mice against lethal CCHFV challenge, even with delayed administration. This study provided in vitro and in vivo data regarding the anti-CCHFV efficacy of different nucleosides and identified a novel compound, H44, as a promising drug candidate for the treatment of CCHFV infection in vivo.

Keywords: Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus; H44; In vivo; Nucleoside analogs; T-705.