Structural Optimizations of Thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole Derivatives for the Development of Metabolically Stable Inhibitors of Chikungunya Virus

J Med Chem. 2017 Apr 13;60(7):3165-3186. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00180. Epub 2017 Apr 4.

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging vector-borne alphavirus, and there is no approved effective antiviral treatment currently available for CHIKV. We previously reported the discovery of thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole 1b that displayed good antiviral activity against CHIKV infection in vitro. However, it has a short half-life in the presence of human liver microsomes (HLMs) (T1/2 = 2.91 min). Herein, we report further optimization studies in which potential metabolically labile sites on compound 1b were removed or modified, resulting in the identification of thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole 20 and pyrrolo[2,3-d]thiazole 23c possessing up to 17-fold increase in metabolic half-lives in HLMs and good in vivo pharmacokinetic properties. Compound 20 not only attenuated viral RNA production and displayed broad-spectrum antiviral activity against other alphaviruses and CHIKV isolates but also exhibited limited cytotoxic liability (CC50 > 100 μM). These studies have identified two compounds that have the potential for further development as antiviral drugs against CHIKV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chikungunya Fever / drug therapy*
  • Chikungunya virus / drug effects*
  • Chikungunya virus / genetics
  • Chikungunya virus / physiology
  • Drug Design*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Pyrroles / chemistry*
  • Pyrroles / metabolism
  • Pyrroles / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Pyrroles
  • RNA, Viral
  • thienopyrrole