Copper Complexes Increase the Efficacy In vitro of Tecovirimat against Pox Viruses

The anti-viral medication Tecovirimat (TPOXX) has in vitro efficacy against poxviruses. In this study, there are several formulations tested in vitro that involve Cu(II) complexes as potential excipients. While the individual components have little or no efficacy, when some are combined with TPOXX, they improve the SI ₅₀ values. The medicinal agents were tested against Vaccinia virus (Copenhagen, Resistant Isolate) and Cowpox virus (Brighton, CPXVR/Resistant Isolate). The poxviruses have become of great concern worldwide because of their potential to be bioterrorism agents (1). Nuclear Magnetic Resonance is utilized to determine structural components of complexes. Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry at 21 Tesla (ESI-21 T FT-ICR MS) identifies elemental compositions that correlate to proposed molecular structures in the aqueous phase. Other work is cited utlizing Cu(II) in which it improved the efficacy of antibiotics (for Tb) and cancers (9 types) in in vitro studies.