The design of a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease: BILN 2061--from the NMR tube to the clinic.

Abstract

The virally encoded serine protease NS3/NS4A is essential to the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), an important human pathogen causing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Until very recently, the design of inhibitors for the HCV NS3 protease was limited to large peptidomimetic compounds with poor pharmacokinetic properties, making drug discovery an extremely challenging endeavor. In our quest for the discovery of a small-molecule lead that could block replication of the hepatitis C virus by binding to the HCV NS3 protease, the critical protein-polypeptide interactions between the virally encoded NS3 serine protease and its polyprotein substrate were investigated. Lead optimization of a substrate-based hexapeptide, guided by structural data, led to the understanding of the molecular dynamics and electronic effects that modulate the affinity of peptidomimetic ligands for the active site of this enzyme. Macrocyclic beta-strand scaffolds were designed that allowed the discovery of potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable compounds. These molecules were the first HCV NS3 protease inhibitors reported that inhibit replication of HCV subgenomic RNA in a cell-based replicon assay at low nanomolar concentrations. Optimization of their biopharmaceutical properties led to the discovery of the clinical candidate BILN 2061. Oral administration of BILN 2061 to patients infected with the hepatitis C genotype 1 virus resulted in an impressive reduction of viral RNA levels, establishing proof-of-concept for HCV NS3 protease inhibitors as therapeutic agents in humans.

• Authors: Youla S Tsantrizos
• Journal: Biopolymers (Biopolymers) Vol. 76 Issue 4 Pg. 309-23 ( 2004) ISSN: 0006-3525 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15386268 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• BILN 2061
• Carbamates
• Macrocyclic Compounds
• NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
• NS4 protein, hepatitis C virus
• Quinolines
• Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
• Thiazoles
• Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Topics

• Carbamates (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Drug Design
• Hepacivirus (drug effects, enzymology)
• Hepatitis C (drug therapy)
• Humans
• In Vitro Techniques
• Macrocyclic Compounds (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Models, Molecular
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
• Quinolines (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Serine Proteinase Inhibitors (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Static Electricity
• Thiazoles (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Viral Nonstructural Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, chemistry)