Discovery and development of VX-950, a novel, covalent, and reversible inhibitor of hepatitis C virus NS3.4A serine protease.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3.4A protease, which is essential for viral replication, is considered one of the most attractive targets for developing novel anti-HCV therapies. However, discovery of potent and selective small-molecule inhibitors of HCV NS3.4A protease as oral drug candidates has been hampered by the shallow substrate-binding groove of the protease. Serine trap warheads have been used to covalently anchor inhibitor scaffolds and to increase their affinity to the protease. This review will examine the evolution of covalent inhibitors of the HCV NS3.4A protease from early aldehyde molecules to alpha-ketoamide inhibitors. Kinetic and structural studies of alpha-ketoacid and alpha-ketoamide inhibitors revealed an unusual mechanism of binding in the catalytic site. Optimization of alpha-ketoamide scaffolds by scientists at Vertex and Eli Lilly led to the discovery of VX-950, a novel, potent, selective inhibitor of HCV NS3.4A protease. VX-950 possesses excellent antiviral activity in both HCV replicon cells and human fetal hepatocytes infected with HCV-positive patient sera. In addition, VX-950 exhibits a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in several animal species and demonstrates potent inhibition of the HCV NS3.4A protease activity in a mouse model. In a recent phase 1b clinical trial, VX-950 was able to rapidly reduce the plasma viral load of patients chronically infected with genotype 1 HCV by a mean approximately 3 log(10) in 2 days. The median viral load reduction was 4.4 log(10) for the best dose group after 14 days of dosing. The pre-clinical profile and early clinical data of VX-950 will be discussed in this review.

Phenylpropenamide derivatives as inhibitors of hepatitis B virus replication.

A non-nucleoside class of compounds that inhibits the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in cell culture has been discovered. A series of substituted analogues of phenylpropenamide 6 has been prepared and evaluated in the HepAD38 cellular assay. Structure-activity relationships of this series are discussed.

NS3.4A protease as a target for interfering with hepatitis C virus replication.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic represents a significant unmet medical need. Current treatment is arduous and less than 50% effective. Indeed, interferon-alpha treatment is so unpleasant that asymptomatic patients will often stop treatment. Heartened by the success of HIV protease inhibitors, researchers have considered inhibition of the HCV NS3 serine protease an attractive mode of intervention. This account discusses the structure and function of NS3 4A and the prospects of its success as a therapeutic target. The review includes a detailed discussion of the role of the NS4A co-factor, requirements for inhibition and some recent examples of peptidomimetic and small-molecule inhibitors.

Preclinical efficacy of thioxanthone SR271425 against transplanted solid tumors of mouse and human origin.

A highly active and broadly active thioxanthone has been identified: N-[[1-[[2-(Diethylamino)ethyl]amino]-7-methoxy-9-oxo-9H-thioxanthen++ +-4-yl] methylformamide (SR271425, BCN326862, WIN71425). In preclinical testing against a variety of subcutaneously growing solid tumors, the following %T/C and Log10 tumor cell kill (LK) values were obtained: Panc-03 T/C = 0, 5/5 cures; Colon-38 (adv. stage) T/C = 0, 3/5 cures, 4.9 LK; Mam-16/C T/C = 0, 3.5 LK; Mam-17/0 T/C = 0, 2.8 LK; Colon-26 T/C = 0, 1/5 cures, 3.2 LK; Colon-51 T/C = 0, 2.7 LK; Panc-02 T/C = 0, 3.1 LK; B16 Melanoma T/C = 13%, 4.0 LK; Squamous Lung-LC12 (adv. stage) T/C = 14%, 4.9 LK; BG-1 human ovarian T/C = 16%, 1.3 LK; WSU-Brl human breast T/C = 25%, 0.8 LK. The agent was modestly active against doxorubicin (Adr)-resistant solid tumors: Mam-17/AdrT/C =23%, 0.8 LK; and Mam-16/C/Adr T/C = 25%, 1.0 LK, but retained substantial activity against a taxol-resistant tumor: Mam-16/C/taxol T/C = 3%, 2.4 LK. SR271425 was highly active against IV implanted leukemias, L1210 6.3 LK and AML1498 5.3 LK. The agent was equally active both by the IV and oral routes of administration, although requiring approximately 30% higher dose by the oral route. Based on its preclinical antitumor profile, it may be appropriate to evaluate SR271425 in clinical trials.

Inhibition of human hepatitis B virus replication by AT-61, a phenylpropenamide derivative, alone and in combination with (-)beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine.

AT-61, a member of a novel class of phenylpropenamide derivatives, was found to be a highly selective and potent inhibitor of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in four different human hepatoblastoma cell lines which support the replication of HBV (i.e., HepAD38, HepAD79, 2.2.15, and transiently transfected HepG2 cells). This compound was equally effective at inhibiting both the formation of intracellular immature core particles and the release of extracellular virions, with 50% effective concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 5.7 microM. AT-61 (27 microM) was able to reduce the amount of HBV covalently closed circular DNA found in the nuclei of HepAD38 cells by >99%. AT-61 at concentrations of >27 microM had little effect on the amount of viral RNA found within the cytoplasms of induced HepAD38 cells but reduced the number of immature virions which contained pregenomic RNA by >99%. The potency of AT-61 was not affected by one of the mutations responsible for (-)-beta-L-2', 3'-dideoxy-3' thiacytidine (3TC) resistance in HBV, and AT-61 acted synergistic with 3TC to inhibit HBV replication. AT-61 (81 microM) was not cytotoxic or antiproliferative to several cell lines and had no antiviral effect on woodchuck or duck HBV, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 1, vesicular stomatitis virus, or Newcastle disease virus. Therefore, we concluded that the antiviral activity of AT-61 is specific for HBV replication and most likely occurs at one of the steps between the synthesis of viral RNA and the packaging of pregenomic RNA into immature core particles.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 4-aminomethylthioxanthenone and 5-aminomethylbenzothiopyranoindazole derivatives.

Two new series of antitumor agents, 4-aminomethylthioxanthenones (6-50) and 5-aminomethylbenzothiopyranoindazoles (51-61), are described and compared. Nearly all members of both series display excellent in vivo activity versus murine pancreatic adenocarcinoma 03 (Panc03) although there is little to distinguish the two series from each other. In both series there is no discernible relationship between structure and in vivo efficacy. Selected analogues were evaluated in vitro; all were observed to have moderate to strong DNA binding via intercalation. However, varying degrees of in vitro P388 cytotoxicity and topoisomerase II inhibition were seen. In general, those molecules which exhibited strong topoisomerase II inhibition were significantly more cytotoxic than those which did not. In both series, those derivatives (48-50, 60, and 61) having a phenolic hydroxy substitution exhibited the most potent P388 cytotoxicity and topoisomerase II inhibition.

Antiviral properties of 3-quinolinecarboxamides: a series of novel non-nucleoside antiherpetic agents.

Novel antiherpetic 3-quinolinecarboxamides were discovered as part of a drug discovery program at Sterling Winthrop Inc. A major goal of this research was to identify novel non-nucleoside agents possessing activity against acyclovir resistant herpes simplex virus. From screening compound libraries in an HSV-2 plaque reduction assay, 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(4-pyridinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxamide (1) emerged as an attractive lead structure. By modifying the quinoline ring at the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 7-positions, analogues were identified that have up to 5-fold increased in vitro potency relative to acyclovir. In a single dose mouse model of infection the 1-(4-FC6H4) analogue 17, one of the most potent derivatives in vitro, displayed comparable oral antiherpetic efficacy to acyclovir at 1/16 the dose; in a multiple dose regimen, however, it was 2-fold less potent. Mechanism of action studies indicate that these new compounds interact with a different, as yet undefined, molecular target than acyclovir.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of some novel 1-substituted 1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-pyridinyl-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids. Potent antistaphylococcal agents.

The palladium-catalyzed coupling of 3- and 4-(trialkylstannyl)pyridines with 7-bromo or 7-chloro 1-substituted 1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylates has provided access to the corresponding 1-substituted 1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-pyridinyl-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids. The antibacterial activity of these derivatives was studied with the finding that the optimal 1- and 7-position substituents for Gram positive activity are cyclopropyl and 4-(2,6-dimethylpyridinyl), respectively. We find that for the fluorine-substituted derivatives studied, the position of the fluorine on the quinolone nucleus or the number of fluorine atoms does not seem to be important for good Gram positive activity. For 1-cyclopropyl 7-(2,6-dimethyl-4-pyridinyl) derivatives, the 6-fluoro 4a, 8-fluoro 10d, 6,8-difluoro 10b, and 5,6,8-trifluoro 8, all provided equal antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213. There is also a correlation between the substitution on the 7-(4-pyridinyl) group and the Gram positive activity, particularly for S. aureus, clearly indicating that the 2,6-dimethylpyridinyl group is optimal. The MIC50 value for the most potent agents in this study against S. aureus ATCC 29213 is 0.008 microgram/mL. By comparison, ciprofloxacin and aminopyrrolidine 28 gave values of 0.25 and 0.015 microgram/mL, respectively, against this organism.

Cyclic variations of 3-quinolinecarboxamides and effects on antiherpetic activity.

Supported by the antiherpetic properties of 3-quinolinecarboxamides and the importance of the planar intramolecular H-bonded beta-keto amide pharmacophore, a series of novel conformationally rigid analogues that contain a heterocyclic bridge between the 3- and 4-positions of the quinoline ring have been evaluated. Two isoxazolo-fused derivatives 17 and 23 displayed good in vitro antiherpetic potency that was similar to that of 1, the 3-quinolinecarboxamide that served as the comparison structure for this study. The pyrazolo, pyrrolo, and pyrimido derivatives showed considerably less or no activity. In vitro activity did not translate to in vivo efficacy. For 17, the lack of in vivo activity is likely a consequence of insufficient plasma drug levels (both Cmax and duration) in mice relative to the MIC versus HSV-2.

3-Quinolinecarboxamides. A series of novel orally-active antiherpetic agents.

A series of novel 3-quinolinecarboxamides that are structurally similar to the quinolone class of antibacterial agents possess excellent antiherpetic properties. By modifying the quinoline ring at the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 7-positions, analogues were identified that have up to 5-fold increased HSV-2 plaque-reduction potency relative to acyclovir. In a single-dose mouse model of infection, one of the most potent derivatives in vitro, 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(4-pyridinyl)-3-quinolinecarbo xamide (97), displayed comparable oral antiherpetic efficacy to acyclovir at 1/16 the dose; in a multiple-dose regimen, however, 97 was 2-fold less potent. In mice dosed orally with 97, sustained plasma drug levels were evident that may account for the high efficacy observed. The molecular mechanism of action of these agents is not known; however, based on in vitro studies with acyclovir resistant mutants, it is likely that the mechanism differs from that of acyclovir. In vitro plaque-reduction potency was not generally predictive of oral efficacy in mice. An X-ray crystal structure of 97 corroborated the assignment of structure and provided useful insights as to the effect of conformation on plaque-reduction potency.

Synthesis and bacterial DNA gyrase inhibitory properties of a spirocyclopropylquinolone derivative.

A novel conformationally restricted 1-cyclopropylquinolone (1) that incorporates structural features of both ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin has been prepared. Compound 1 was found to be a DNA gyrase inhibitor having potency similar to ofloxacin but less than ciprofloxacin. The cellular inhibitory and in vivo antibacterial potencies of 1 were found to be less than those of the two reference agents.