The discovery of IDX21437: Design, synthesis and antiviral evaluation of 2'-α-chloro-2'-ß-C-methyl branched uridine pronucleotides as potent liver-targeted HCV polymerase inhibitors.

Herein we describe the discovery of IDX21437 35b, a novel RPd-aminoacid-based phosphoramidate prodrug of 2'-α-chloro-2'-ß-C-methyluridine monophosphate. Its corresponding triphosphate 6 is a potent inhibitor of the HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Despite showing very weak activity in the in vitro Huh-7 cell based HCV replicon assay, 35b demonstrated high levels of active triphosphate 6 in mouse liver and human hepatocytes. A biochemical study revealed that the metabolism of 35b was mainly attributed to carboxyesterase 1 (CES1), an enzyme which is underexpressed in HCV Huh-7-derived replicon cells. Furthermore, due to its metabolic activation, 35b was efficiently processed in liver cells compared to other cell types, including human cardiomyocytes. The selected RP diastereoisomeric configuration of 35b was assigned by X-ray structural determination. 35b is currently in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of HCV infection.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of a novel series of homoserine-based inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS3/4A serine protease.

We disclose here the synthesis of a series of macrocyclic HCV protease inhibitors, where the homoserine linked together the quinoline P2' motif and the macrocyclic moiety. These compounds exhibit potent inhibitory activity against HCV NS3/4A protease and replicon cell based assay. Their enzymatic and antiviral activities are modulated by substitutions on the quinoline P2' at position 8 by methyl and halogens and by small heterocycles at position 2. The in vitro structure activity relationship (SAR) studies and in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluations of selected compounds are described herein.

Discovery and structural diversity of the hepatitis C virus NS3/4A serine protease inhibitor series leading to clinical candidate IDX320.

Exploration of the P2 region by mimicking the proline motif found in BILN2061 resulted in the discovery of two series of potent HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors. X-ray crystal structure of the ligand in contact with the NS3/4A protein and modulation of the quinoline heterocyclic region by structure based design and modeling allowed for the optimization of enzyme potency and cellular activity. This research led to the selection of clinical candidate IDX320 having good genotype coverage and pharmacokinetic properties in various species.

Structure-based design of a novel series of azetidine inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS3/4A serine protease.

Structural homology between thrombin inhibitors and the early tetrapeptide HCV protease inhibitor led to the bioisosteric replacement of the P2 proline by a 2,4-disubstituted azetidine within the macrocyclic ß-strand mimic. Molecular modeling guided the design of the series. This approach was validated by the excellent activity and selectivity in biochemical and cell based assays of this novel series and confirmed by the co-crystal structure of the inhibitor with the NS3/4A protein (PDB code: 4TYD).

Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of Carbocyclic Nucleoside Analogs of Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Translocation Inhibitor MK-8591 (4'-Ethynyl-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine).

MK-8591 (4'-ethynyl-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine) is a novel nucleoside analog that displays a differentiated mechanism of action as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor (NRTTI) compared to approved NRTIs. Herein, we describe our recent efforts to explore the impact of structural changes to the properties of MK-8591 through the synthesis and antiviral evaluation of carbocyclic derivatives. Synthesized analogs were evaluated for their antiviral activity, and the corresponding triphosphates were synthesized and evaluated in a biochemical assay. 4'-Ethynyl-G derivative (±)-29 displayed a promising IC50 of 33 nM in a hPBMC cell-based antiviral assay, and its triphosphate (TP), (±)-29-TP, displayed an IC50 of 324 nM in a biochemical RT-polymerase assay. Improved TP anabolite delivery resulting in improved in vitro potency was achieved by preparing the corresponding phosphoramidate prodrug of single enantiomer 29b, with 6-ethoxy G derivative 34b displaying a significantly improved IC50 of 3.0 nM, paving the way for new directions for this novel class of nucleoside analogs.

Discovery of the Aryl-phospho-indole IDX899, a Highly Potent Anti-HIV Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor.

Here, we describe the design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and identification of a clinical candidate non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) with a novel aryl-phospho-indole (APhI) scaffold. NNRTIs are recommended components of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV-1. Since a major problem associated with NNRTI treatment is the emergence of drug resistant virus, this work focused on optimization of the APhI against clinically relevant HIV-1 Y181C and K103N mutants and the Y181C/K103N double mutant. Optimization of the phosphinate aryl substituent led to the discovery of the 3-Me,5-acrylonitrile-phenyl analogue RP-13s (IDX899) having an EC50 of 11 nM against the Y181C/K103N double mutant.

Stereoinversion of beta- and gamma-substituted alpha-amino acids using a chemo-enzymatic oxidation-reduction procedure.

Both D- and L-beta- and gamma-substituted alpha-amino acids can be interconverted to their respective L- and D- diastereoisomers by treatment with an enantioselective amino acid oxidase and a chemical reducing agent.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of aryl-phospho-indole as novel HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

A novel series of 3-aryl-phospho-indole (API) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors of HIV-1 was developed. Chemical variation in the phosphorus linker led to the discovery of 3-phenyl-methyl-phosphinate-2-carboxamide 14, which possessed excellent potency against wild-type HIV-1 as well as viruses bearing K103N and Y181C single mutants in the reverse transcriptase gene. Chiral separation of the enantiomers showed that only R enantiomer retained the activity. The pharmacokinetic, solubility, and metabolic properties of 14 were assessed.

Microwaves in drug discovery and multi-step synthesis.

The interest of microwaves in drug discovery and multi-step synthesis is exposed with the aim of describing our strategy. These studies are connected with our work on the synthesis of original heterocyclic compounds with potential pharmaceutical value. Reactions in the presence of solvent and solvent-free synthesis can be realised under a variety of conditions; for some of these selected results are given, and where available, results from comparison with the same solvent-free conditions but with classical heating are given.