Compositions and methods for the treatment, as well as the inhibition and prevention, of an infection of the papillomavirus and the epithelial lesions, namely, the warts of the skin and mucosal surfaces, associated therewith, in a mammalian host, as well as methods of inhibiting the replication of a papillomavirus in an infected cell, are provided. The compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of an active ingredient comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, amodiaquine, or in each case, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The methods comprise topically administering a therapeutically and/or antivirally effective amount of such a compound to a mammalian host, such as a human being, in need of such treatment, although alternatively other routes of administration may be used, including but not limited to transdermal, transmucosal, respiratory, and by injection. The compositions optionally also comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable non-active ingredients.
