Toward the back-up of boceprevir (SCH 503034): discovery of new extended P4-capped ketoamide inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3 serine protease with improved potency and pharmacokinetic profiles.

Hepatitis C is the most prevalent liver disease. Viral hepatitis C (HCV), a small (+)-RNA virus, infects chronically an estimated 300 million people worldwide. Results of Phase I clinical studies with our first generation HCV inhibitor Boceprevir, SCH 503034 (1), presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) were encouraging, and thus, additional human clinical studies are underway. In view of the positive data from our first generation compound, further work aimed at optimizing its overall profile was undertaken. Herein, we report that extension of our earlier inhibitor to the P(4) pocket and optimization of the P(1)' capping led to the discovery of new ketoamide inhibitors of the HCV NS3 serine protease with improved in vitro potency. In addition to being potent inhibitors of HCV subgenomic RNA replication, some of the new P(4)-capped inhibitors were also found to have improved PK profile.

Toward second generation hepatitis C virus NS3 serine protease inhibitors: discovery of novel P4 modified analogues with improved potency and pharmacokinetic profile.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health crisis leading to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure in humans. Recently, we disclosed the discovery of Boceprevir, SCH 503034 (1), a novel, potent, selective, orally bioavailable NS3 protease inhibitor that is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials. Our efforts toward a second generation HCV NS3 serine protease inhibitor were directed at improving the overall profile of the inhibitor. This article will elaborate on our studies leading to the discovery of new P4 modified inhibitors with enhanced potency and improved oral bioavailability. Thus, introduction of ether and carbamate-derived P4 moieties resulted in improving the replicon potency significantly. Incorporation of the P' secondary amide residue afforded significant improvement in pharmacokinetic properties. Combining the preferred moieties, identified from comprehensive SAR studies, resulted in inhibitors that displayed superior potency and very good oral as well as target organ exposure in rats.

Key steps in the structure-based optimization of the hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease inhibitor SCH503034.

The structures of both native and S139A holo-HCV NS3/4A protease domain were solved to high resolution. Subsequently, structures were determined for a series of ketoamide inhibitors in complex with the protease. The changes in the inhibitor potency were correlated with changes in the buried surface area upon binding the inhibitor to the active site. The largest contributions to the binding energy arise from the hydrophobic interactions of the P1 and P2 groups as they bind to the S1 and S2 pockets. This correlation of the changes in potency with increased buried surface area contributed directly to the design of a potent tripeptide inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A protease, which is currently in clinical trials.

Discovery of the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor (1R,5S)-N-[3-amino-1-(cyclobutylmethyl)-2,3-dioxopropyl]-3- [2(S)-[[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]carbonyl]amino]-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutyl]- 6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2(S)-carboxamide (Sch 503034) II. Key steps in structure-based optimization.

The structures of both the native holo-HCV NS3/4A protease domain and the protease domain with a serine 139 to alanine (S139A) mutation were solved to high resolution. Subsequently, structures were determined for a series of ketoamide inhibitors in complex with the protease. The changes in the inhibitor potency were correlated with changes in the buried surface area upon binding the inhibitor to the active site. The largest contribution to the binding energy arises from the hydrophobic interactions of the P1 and P2 groups as they bind to the S1 and S2 pockets [the numbering of the subsites is as defined in Berger, A.; Schechter, I. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. B 1970, 257, 249-264]. This correlation of the changes in potency with increased buried surface area contributed directly to the design of a potent tripeptide inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A protease that is currently in clinical trials.

Discovery of (1R,5S)-N-[3-amino-1-(cyclobutylmethyl)-2,3-dioxopropyl]- 3-[2(S)-[[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]carbonyl]amino]-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutyl]- 6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2(S)-carboxamide (SCH 503034), a selective, potent, orally bioavailable hepatitis C virus NS3 protease inhibitor: a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hepatitis C infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the major cause of chronic liver disease, leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which affects more than 170 million people worldwide. Currently the only therapeutic regimens are subcutaneous interferon-alpha or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-interferon-alpha alone or in combination with oral ribavirin. Although combination therapy is reasonably successful with the majority of genotypes, its efficacy against the predominant genotype (genotype 1) is moderate at best, with only about 40% of the patients showing sustained virological response. Herein, the SAR leading to the discovery of 70 (SCH 503034), a novel, potent, selective, orally bioavailable NS3 protease inhibitor that has been advanced to clinical trials in human beings for the treatment of hepatitis C viral infections is described. X-ray structure of inhibitor 70 complexed with the NS3 protease and biological data are also discussed.

Discovery of SCH446211 (SCH6): a new ketoamide inhibitor of the HCV NS3 serine protease and HCV subgenomic RNA replication.

Introduction of various modified prolines at P(2) and optimization of the P(1) side chain led to the discovery of SCH6 (24, Table 2), a potent ketoamide inhibitor of the HCV NS3 serine protease. In addition to excellent enzyme potency (K(i)*= 3.8 nM), 24 was also found to be a potent inhibitor of HCV subgenomic RNA replication with IC(50) and IC(90) of 40 and 100 nM, respectively. Recently, antiviral activity of 24 was demonstrated with inhibition of the full-length genotype 2a HCV genome. In addition, 24 was found to restore the responsiveness of the interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) in cells containing HCV RNA replicons.

Hydroxylated analogues of the orally active broad spectrum antifungal, Sch 51048 (1), and the discovery of posaconazole [Sch 56592; 2 or (S,S)-5].

As part of a detailed study, the syntheses, biological activities, and pharmacokinetic properties of hydroxylated analogues of the previously described broad spectrum antifungal agents, Sch 51048 (1), Sch 50001 (3), and Sch 50002 (4), are described. Based on an overall superior profile, one of the alcohols, Sch 56592 (2), was selected for clinical studies.

Addition-Rearrangement of Aryl- and Alkoxysulfonyl Isocyanates with 5-Methyl-Substituted 3,4-Dihydro-2-methoxy-2H-pyrans. Selective Synthesis of Functionalized 2-Piperidones(1).

3,4-Dihydro-2-methoxy-5-methyl-2H-pyran and 3,4-dihydro-2-methoxy-5,6-dimethyl-2H-pyran undergo addition-rearrangement reactions with arylsulfonyl isocyanates to generate the corresponding 3-formyl- and 3-acetyl-6-methoxy-3-methyl-1-(arylsulfonyl)-2-piperidones. For example, 3,4-dihydro-2-methoxy-5-methyl-2H-pyran and phenylsulfonyl isocyanate afforded 3-formyl-6-methoxy-3-methyl-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-2-piperidone as a separable trans/cis mixture in high yield. The more reactive phenoxysulfonyl and alkoxysulfonyl isocyanates provided analogous results.