Adenovirus ocular infections are common ocular viral infections seen worldwide, for which there is no approved antiviral therapy available. Ranpirnase is a novel ribonuclease which preferentially degrades tRNA resulting in an inhibition of protein synthesis. The study goal was to determine the anti-adenoviral activity of topical formulations of ranpirnase (OKG-0301) on adenoviral replication in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular replication model. NZW rabbits were inoculated in both eyes with human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV5) after corneal scarification. A day later, topical therapy was initiated in both eyes with 0.03% OKG-0301, 0.003% OKG-0301, saline or 0.5% cidofovir. Eyes were cultured to determine HAdV5 eye titers over 2 weeks. OKG-0301 (0.03% and 0.003%) and 0.5% cidofovir decreased viral titers compared to saline. Furthermore, both OKG-0301 formulations and 0.5% cidofovir shortened the duration of the HAdV5 infection compared to saline. Both 0.03% OKG-0301 and 0.003% OKG-0301 demonstrated increased antiviral activity compared to saline in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular replication model. The antiviral activity of the OKG-0301 groups was similar to that of the positive antiviral control, 0.5% cidofovir. Ranpirnase (OKG-0301) may be a potential candidate for a topical antiviral for adenoviral eye infections. Further clinical development is warranted.
Keywords: EKC; RNase; adenovirus; animal model; antiviral; eye; ranpirnase.