ABSTRACT
Ribavirin is an important broad-spectrum antiviral drug. However, its utilization can be limited by its potential to cause hemolytic anemia as well as its variability in dosing levels and efficacy outcomes. To overcome these issues, we report on a new alkoxyalkylphosphodiester prodrug of ribavirin (2) that is designed to release the active ribavirin-monophosphate species selectively in nucleated cells while limiting its exposure in anucleated red blood cells (RBCs). Prodrug 2 displays improved in vitro antiviral activity against the hepatitis C virus replicon and influenza virus. Unlike ribavirin, prodrug 2 does not significantly decrease ATP levels in RBCs. Prodrug 2 demonstrates decreased uptake in RBCs but increased uptake in HepG2 hepatocytes when compared to ribavirin. In vivo, prodrug 2 is orally bioavailable and well-tolerated in rats in which it is processed to ribavirin and accumulates in the liver. These results indicate that prodrug 2 has the potential for safer, lower, less frequent, and less variable administration than ribavirin.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/chemical synthesis , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Prodrugs/chemical synthesis , Prodrugs/pharmacology , Ribavirin/chemical synthesis , Ribavirin/pharmacology , Administration, Oral , Animals , Antiviral Agents/pharmacokinetics , Cell Line , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Hepacivirus/drug effects , Hepatocytes/metabolism , Humans , Liver/chemistry , Orthomyxoviridae/drug effects , Prodrugs/pharmacokinetics , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Ribavirin/pharmacokineticsABSTRACT
7-Substituted 3-aryl-1,6-naphthyridine-2,7-diamines and related 2-ureas are inhibitors of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). 3-(3,5-Dimethoxyphenyl) and 3-phenyl analogues were prepared from 7-acetamido-2-tert-butylureas by alkylation with benzyl omega-iodoalkyl ethers, debenzylation, and amination, followed by selective cleavage of the 7-N-acetamide. 3-(2,6-Dichlorophenyl) analogues were prepared from the 7-fluoro-2-amine by displacement with substituted alkylamines, followed by selective acylation of the resulting substituted naphthyridine-2,7-diamines with alkyl isocyanates. The 3-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl) derivatives were low nanomolar inhibitors of both FGFR and VEGFR and were highly selective (>100-fold) over PDGFR and c-Src. Variations in the base strength or spatial position of the 7-side chain base had only small effects on the potency (<5-fold) or selectivity (<20-fold). The 3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-2-urea derivatives were slightly less active against VEGFR and less selective, being more effective against PDGFR (ca. 10-fold) and c-Src (ca. 500-fold). The 3-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,6-naphthyridines were generally more potent than the corresponding pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines against both VEGFR and FGFR (2- to 20-fold), with only slightly increased PDGFR and c-Src activity. The 3-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,6-naphthyridine 2-ureas were also low nanomolar inhibitors of the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated by serum, FGF, or VEGF, at concentrations that did not affect the growth of representative tumor cell lines, and were more (3- to 65-fold) potent than the corresponding pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines.