The present invention provides nucleoside compounds and certain
derivatives thereof which are inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA viral
polymerase. These compounds are inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA viral
replication and are useful for the treatment of RNA-dependent RNA viral
infection. They are particularly useful as inhibitors of hepatitis C
virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase, as inhibitors of HCV replication, and/or for
the treatment of hepatitis C infection. The invention also describes
pharmaceutical compositions containing such nucleoside compounds alone or
in combination with other agents active against RNA-dependent RNA viral
infection, in particular HCV infection. Also disclosed are methods of
inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA
viral replication, and/or treating RNA-dependent RNA viral infection with
the nucleoside compounds of the present invention.