title: Overcoming hERG affinity in the discovery of maraviroc; a CCR5 antagonist for the treatment of HIV.
abstract: Avoiding cardiac liability associated with blockade of hERG (human ether a go-go) is key for successful drug discovery and development. This paper describes the work undertaken in the discovery of a potent CCR5 antagonist, maraviroc 34, for the treatment of HIV. In particular the use of a pharmacophore model of the hERG channel and a high throughput binding assay for the hERG channel are described that were critical to elucidate SAR to overcome hERG liabilities. The key SAR involves the introduction of polar substituents into regions of the molecule where it is postulated to undergo hydrophobic interactions with the ion channel. Within the CCR5 project there appeared to be no strong correlation between hERG affinity and physiochemical parameters such as pKa or lipophilicity. It is believed that chemists could apply these same strategies early in drug discovery to remove hERG interactions associated with lead compounds while retaining potency at the primary target.
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Global Research and Development, Groton/New London Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Eastern Point Road, Groton, CT 06340, USA. david.a.price@pfizer.com
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armour
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leishman
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Napier
authors.forename: Manos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perros
authors.forename: Blanda L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Stammen
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065100:CCR5 Receptor Antagonists; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000077592:Maraviroc; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000378:metabolism; D014230:Triazoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D065100:CCR5 Receptor Antagonists; D003510:Cyclohexanes; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D014230:Triazoles; D000077592:Maraviroc