The present invention provides C-purine nucleoside analogs and certain
derivatives thereof which are inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA viral
polymerase. These compounds are inhibitors 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 C-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 C-nucleoside compounds of the present invention.