No abstract

In an effort to find an orally bioavailable antiviral for the treatment of rhino/enteroviral infections, a series of vinylacetylene benzimidazoles (11a-o, 12, and 18a) was made. Initial studies of this class of antivirals showed that fluorine substitution on the left-hand phenyl ring in combination with the vinylacetylene moiety gave the requisite mix of physical properties to achieve good in vitro antiviral activity as well as respectable oral bioavailability in rhesus monkeys. To ascertain the generality of this finding and to broaden the scope of the structure-activity relationship (SAR), the present study concentrated on fluoro substitution of this class of molecules. The initial antiviral activity for each analogue was measured using human rhinovirus 14 (HRV-14). This served as an indicator of general antiviral activity for SAR purposes. Subsequently, the spectrum of antirhino/enteroviral activity of the more interesting analogues was evaluated through testing against a panel of seven additional rhino/enteroviruses. Broad-spectrum activity was present and consistent for all analogues tested, and it tracked closely with the antiviral activity observed against HRV-14. A simple screening protocol for oral bioavailability was established whereby compounds were administered orally to mice and plasma levels were measured. This procedure facilitated the evaluation of numerous analogues in a rapid manner. The Cmax was used as a measure of oral bioavailability to allow relative ranking of compounds. In general, fluorine substitution directly on the left-hand aromatic ring does give good oral blood levels. However, fluorine incorporation at other positions in the molecule was not as effective at maintaining either the activity or the oral plasma levels. The constructive combination of activity and oral plasma levels was maximized in three derivatives: 11a,e,g.

A series of vinylacetylene analogs of Enviroxime (1) was synthesized. The new compounds are potent inhibitors of poliovirus in tissue culture. Cross-sensitivity with Enviroxime-derived mutants shows that the new compounds have the same mechanism of action as Enviroxime, which involves the viral 3A protein. In studies with Rhesus monkeys, the p-fluoro derivative 12 was found to be unique in providing oral bioavailability. Metabolism studies using hepatic microsomes suggest that this procedure would be a useful in vitro method for selecting the appropriate animal model for testing oral absorption. Compound 12 was found to be efficacious by oral administration in treating a Coxsackie A21 infection in CD-1 mice.

1,3,4-Thiadiazol-2-ylcyanamide (LY217896) and its sodium salt were shown to be effective against influenza A and B viruses in vitro and in the mouse model. In nondividing confluent MDCK cells, the 50% inhibitory concentration of LY217896 ranged from 0.37 to 1.19 micrograms/ml against various strains of influenza A virus and from 0.75 to 1.54 micrograms/ml against various strains of influenza B virus, with no apparent cytotoxicity. However, at a concentration of 0.31 microgram/ml, LY217896 inhibited the replication of dividing MDCK cells. LY217896 (9 mg/m2 of body surface area per day) administered in the diet, in the drinking water, by oral gavage, by intraperitoneal injection, or by aerosolization was well tolerated and protected CD-1 mice infected with a lethal dose of influenza A or B virus. Effective administration of the compound could be delayed for up to 96 h postinfection. Virus titer was reduced by 1 to 2 log10 units in lungs of mice given LY217896 in the drinking water. Mice treated initially with protective levels of LY217896 were resistant to a subsequent challenge of influenza virus in the absence of the compound, indicating that the animals were able to develop immunity to the initial infection. Administration of LY217896 to uninfected mice did not induce interferon-like activity or interfere with natural killer cell function. In the ferret, LY217896 was effective in preventing fever induced by influenza virus.

No abstract