Synthesis and Pharmacokinetics of Valopicitabine (NM283), an Efficient Prodrug of the Potent Anti-HCV Agent 2‘-<i>C</i>-Methylcytidine
作者:Claire Pierra、Agnès Amador、Samira Benzaria、Erika Cretton-Scott、Marc D'Amours、John Mao、Steven Mathieu、Adel Moussa、Edward G. Bridges、David N. Standring、Jean-Pierre Sommadossi、Richard Storer、Gilles Gosselin
DOI:10.1021/jm0603623
日期:2006.11.1
In our search for new therapeutic agents against chronic hepatitis C, a ribonucleoside analogue, 2'-C-methylcytidine, was discovered to be a potent and selective inhibitor in cell culture of a number of RNA viruses, including the pestivirus bovine viral diarrhea virus, a surrogate model for hepatitis C virus (HCV), and three flaviviruses, namely, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, and dengue-2 virus. However, pharmacokinetic studies revealed that 2'-C-methylcytidine suffers from a low oral bioavailability. To overcome this limitation, we have synthesized the 3'-O-L-valinyl ester derivative (dihydrochloride form, valopicitabine, NM283) of 2'-C-methylcytidine. We detail herein for the first time the chemical synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of this anti-HCV prodrug candidate, as well as a comparative study of its pharmacokinetic parameters with those of its parent nucleoside analogue, 2'-C-methylcytidine.