title: Furano pyrimidines as novel potent and selective anti-VZV agents.
abstract: Bicyclic furano pyrimidine nucleosides have been found to be highly potent and selective inhibitors of varicella zoster virus (VZV). They are inactive against herpes simplex virus and have been known for several decades as (unwanted) synthetic by-products in the Pd-catalysed coupling of acetylenes to 5-iodo nucleosides. These fluorescent bicyclic nucleosides are now established as a new family of potent antivirals. They are unusual in that they exhibit complete specificity for VZV and require an alkyl (or alkylaryl) side-chain for biological activity. The latter requirement confers extremely high lipophilicities on these compounds, unknown amongst chemotherapeutic nucleosides, which may be of considerable importance in formulation, dosing and tissue distribution. The most potent compounds reported are p-alkylaryl compounds, with EC50 values below 1 nM versus VZV and selectivity index values of around 1,000,000. Here, we review the discovery, synthesis, characterization, antiviral profile, SAR, mechanism of action and development prospects for this new family of antivirals.
authors.affiliation: Welsh School of Pharmacy, University of Wales Cardiff, UK. mcguigan@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGuigan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brancale
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barucki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pathirana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carangio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blewett
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luoni
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bidet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jukes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrei
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snoeck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balzarini
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003855:Deoxyribose / Q000737:chemistry; D005663:Furans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012995:Solubility; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005663:Furans; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides; D003855:Deoxyribose