Abstract: Antiviral compounds comprising prodrugs with differing side chains derived from a tyrosine substance in the form of a tyrosine amide in which the amide substituent side chain is an alkyl ether, thioether, or alkene. Embodiments of the compounds have a range of effective lipophilicity values allowing variation in aqueous solubility, oral bioavailability, cell permeability and in vivo activation properties. The embodiments have promoieties derived from a single amino acid, which are expected to have low toxicity. The features described above also make possible a novel “precision medicine” approach to treatment of viral infections, whereby the prodrug variations can be exploited to match optimal activation of the prodrug to a given patient or strain of virus.

Abstract: An antiviral compound of the following formula (I) is provided or a salt or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where B is a naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring base; R1 is a C2-C14 alkyl group; X is O, S, CH?CH (cis) or CH?CH (trans); and R2 is a C2-C14 alkyl group. In some embodiments, B can be adenine or cytosine. Compositions containing the compound, and methods of using and preparing the compound, are also provided.