title: Novel potent inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease with cyclic sulfonyl P3 cappings.
abstract: Extensive SAR studies of the P3 capping group led to the discovery of a series of potent inhibitors with sultam and cyclic sulfonyl urea moieties as the P3 capping. The bicyclic thiophene-sultam or phenyl-sultam cappings were selected for further SAR development. Modification at the P3 side chain determined that the tert-butyl group was the best choice at that position. Optimization of P1 residue significantly improved potency and selectivity. The combination of optimal moieties at all positions led to the discovery of compound 33. This compound had the best overall profile in potency and PK profile: excellent K(i)(*) of 5.3 nM and activity in replicon (EC(90)) of 80 nM, extremely high selectivity of 6100, and a good rat PO AUC of 1.43 microMh.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Tumor Biology, Schering-Plough Research Institute, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, K-15-A-3545, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA. kevin.chen@spcorp.com
authors.forename: Kevin X
authors.initials: KX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bancha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vibulbhan
authors.forename: Weiying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Latha G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Kuo-Chi
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: F George
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Njoroge
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D015195:Drug Design; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000737:chemistry; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D013843:Thiazines; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; C084593:sulthiame; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides