Synthesis and in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of the hydroxy metabolites of saperconazole.
Herein we describe the scalable diastereoselective and enantioselective syntheses of eight enantiomers of hydroxy metabolites of saperconazole. The in vitro antifungal activity of the eight stereoisomers (compounds 1-8) was compared against a broad panel of Candida spp. (n=93), Aspergillus spp. (n=10), Cryptococcus spp. (n=19), and dermatophytes (n=27). The four 2S isomers 1-4 of the new agent were generally slightly more active than the four 2R isomers 5-8. All eight isomers were tested in a model of experimental A. fumigatus infection in guinea pigs by intravenous inoculation of the fungal conidia. Treatment doses were 1.25 mg kg(-1) and 2.5 mg kg(-1) per day. Infection severity was measured in terms of mean survival time (MST) after infection and mean tissue burdens in brain, liver, spleen, and kidney at postmortem examination. Among the eight isomers, the 2S diastereomers 1-4 showed a generally higher level of activity than the 2R diastereomers 5-8, revealing compounds 1 and 4 as the most potent overall in eradicating tissue burden and MST. Compared with reference compounds itraconazole and saperconazole, the hydroxy isomers 1-8 are less potent inhibitors of the growth of A. fumigatus in vitro and of ergosterol biosynthesis in both A. fumigatus and C. albicans.
Meerpoel
Lieven
L
Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Beerse, Belgium. lmeerpoe@its.jnj.com <lmeerpoe@its.jnj.com>
Heeres
Jan
J
Backx
Leo J J
LJ
Van der Veken
Louis J E
LJ
Hendrickx
Rob
R
Corens
David
D
De Groot
Alex
A
Leurs
Stef
S
Van der Eycken
Luc
L
Weerts
Johan
J
Luyts
Paul
P
Van Gerven
Frans
F
Woestenborghs
Filip A A
FA
Van Breda
Andre
A
Oris
Michel
M
van Dorsselaer
Pascal
P
Willemsens
Gustaaf H M
GH
Bellens
Danny
D
Marichal
Patrick J M G
PJ
Vanden Bossche
Hugo F
HF
Odds
Frank C
FC
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects; D001393:Azoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001393:Azoles; C060571:saperconazole