Methods for inhibiting viral replication in vivo

I read this information from on of the patent,The  invention provides methods of inhibiting viral replication in an individual comprising administering to said individual a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a compound comprising ADI covalently bonded via a linking group to polyethylene glycol, wherein each polyethylene glycol molecule has an average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 30,000. ADI is modified with polyethylene glycol molecules, each molecule having an average molecular weight of about 20,000. The linking group is selected from the group consisting of a succinimide group, an amide group, an imide group, a carbamate group, an ester group, an epoxy group, a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, a carbohydrate, a tyrosine group, a cysteine group, a histidine group and combinations thereof. the linking group is succinimidyl succinate, from about 7 to about 15 polyethylene glycol molecules are bonded to arginine deiminase. from about 9 to about 12 polyethylene glycol molecules are bonded to arginine deiminase. the arginine deiminase is derived from a microorganism of the genus Mycoplasma. the arginine deiminase is derived from Mycoplasma arginini, Mycoplasma hominus, Mycoplasma arthritides and combinations thereof. the virus is HCV. the methods further comprise the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an additional anti-viral agent prior to administration of the arginine deiminase.
A therapeutically effective amount of one of the compounds of the present invention is an amount that is effective to inhibit viral replication. Generally, treatment is initiated with small dosages which can be increased by small increments until the optimum effect under the circumstances is achieved. Generally, a therapeutic dosage of compounds may be from about 1 to about 200 mg/kg twice a week to about once every two weeks. For example, the dosage may be about 1 mg/kg once a week as a 2 ml intravenous injection to about 20 mg/kg once every 3 days. The compounds can be administered in one dose, continuously or intermittently throughout the course of treatment. ADI-PEG maybe administered several times each day, once a day, once a week, or once every two weeks.
 The compounds of the present invention may additionally be combined with other antiviral compounds to provide a combination therapy. Any known anti-viral may be combined with the compositions of the present invention, as long as the combination does not eliminate the antiviral activity of the compound of ADI-PEG. In the case of HIV a combination therapy of ADI-PEG with AZT, TC-3 or protease inhibitors may be more effective than either agent individually. In the case of hepatitis, a combination of ADI-PEG with one or more of cyclovir, famciclovir or valacyclovir, ribavirin, interferon or beta globulin is administered as a combination therapy. For herpes, a recombinant alpha interferon can be used as a combination therapy with ADI-PEG