Antiviral polymers comprising acid functional groups and hydrophobic groups

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of treating a viral infection in an animal, such as a human, by administering to the animal a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer comprising a plurality of pendant hydrophobic groups and a plurality of pendant acid functional groups. The acid functional groups are connected directly to the polymer backbone or via an aliphatic spacer group of 1 to about 20 atoms in length.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a viral infection in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer comprising a plurality of pendant hydrophobic groups and a plurality of pendant acid functional groups, said acid functional groups being directly connected to the polymer backbone or connected to the polymer backbone by an aliphatic spacer group having a length from 1 to about 20 atoms.