Discovery of ABT-267, a pan-genotypic inhibitor of HCV NS5A

J Med Chem. 2014 Mar 13;57(5):2047-57. doi: 10.1021/jm401398x. Epub 2014 Jan 15.

Abstract

We describe here N-phenylpyrrolidine-based inhibitors of HCV NS5A with excellent potency, metabolic stability, and pharmacokinetics. Compounds with 2S,5S stereochemistry at the pyrrolidine ring provided improved genotype 1 (GT1) potency compared to the 2R,5R analogues. Furthermore, the attachment of substituents at the 4-position of the central N-phenyl group resulted in compounds with improved potency. Substitution with tert-butyl, as in compound 38 (ABT-267), provided compounds with low-picomolar EC50 values and superior pharmacokinetics. It was discovered that compound 38 was a pan-genotypic HCV inhibitor, with an EC50 range of 1.7-19.3 pM against GT1a, -1b, -2a, -2b, -3a, -4a, and -5a and 366 pM against GT6a. Compound 38 decreased HCV RNA up to 3.10 log10 IU/mL during 3-day monotherapy in treatment-naive HCV GT1-infected subjects and is currently in phase 3 clinical trials in combination with an NS3 protease inhibitor with ritonavir (r) (ABT-450/r) and an NS5B non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor (ABT-333), with and without ribavirin.

MeSH terms

  • 2-Naphthylamine
  • Anilides / chemistry
  • Anilides / pharmacokinetics
  • Anilides / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Availability
  • Carbamates / chemistry
  • Carbamates / pharmacokinetics
  • Carbamates / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Discovery
  • Genotype*
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Proline
  • Rats
  • Sulfonamides / chemistry
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacokinetics
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*
  • Uracil / analogs & derivatives*
  • Uracil / chemistry
  • Uracil / pharmacokinetics
  • Uracil / pharmacology
  • Valine
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Anilides
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Carbamates
  • Sulfonamides
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • ombitasvir
  • Uracil
  • Proline
  • 2-Naphthylamine
  • dasabuvir
  • NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Valine