Phosphorylation of ganciclovir phosphonate by cellular GMP kinase determines the stereoselectivity of anti-human cytomegalovirus activity.

A racemic mixture of ganciclovir phosphonate was resolved by stereoselective phosphorylation using GMP kinase. The R-enantiomer of ganciclovir phosphonate was active against human cytomegalovirus but the S-enantiomer was less active. We show that enantiomeric selectivity of antiviral for ganciclovir phosphonate was conferred by stereoselective phosphorylations by mammalian enzymes, not by stereoselective inhibition of DNA polymerase from human cytomegalovirus.

Guanine, pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine, and triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine (8-azaguanine) phosphonate acyclic derivatives as inhibitors of purine nucleoside phosphorylase.

Phosphonate acyclic derivates of guanines, pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines, and triazolo[4,5-d]-pyrimidines (8-azaguanines) are inhibitors of the enzyme purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase) with Ki' values ranging from 0.05 to 1.6 microM. These compounds are enzymatically stable congeners of the potent PNPase inhibitor acyclovir diphosphate (53).

Review of research leading to new anti-herpesvirus agents in clinical development: valaciclovir hydrochloride (256U, the L-valyl ester of acyclovir) and 882C, a specific agent for varicella zoster virus.

Research leading to the new anti-herpesvirus compounds discussed here has come from three approaches. The first approach was directed towards improving the bioavailability of acyclovir by examining the potential of a variety of prodrugs, leading to the new compound valaciclovir hydrochloride. The second approach was to examine a large number of 5-substituted pyrimidines for activity against those viruses which were not as potently inhibited by acyclovir as are herpes simplex viruses, i.e., varicella zoster virus (VZV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). This research led to the new chemical entity 882C for VZV. A third approach has been to examine drug combinations with acyclovir. This research led to the compound 348U, an inhibitor of herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase which acts synergistically in combination with acyclovir. This manuscript will focus on the first two approaches leading to new compounds valaciclovir hydrochloride and 882C since Dr. Safrin details such background for 348U/acyclovir. Attempts to improve the bioavailability of acyclovir began a decade ago. Early prodrugs were compounds with alterations in the 6-substituent of the purine ring of acyclovir. The 6-amino congener required the cellular enzyme adenosine deaminase for conversion to acyclovir and the 6-deoxycongener was dependent on cellular xanthine oxidase for conversion. Neither of these prodrugs had a chronic toxicity profile in laboratory animals as good as acyclovir. Efforts were directed towards simpler esters and 18 amino acid esters were made. The pharmacokinetic profile of each prodrug was determined in rats by measuring the recovery of acyclovir in urine after oral dosing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of acyclic pyrimidines related to 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine on herpesviruses.

A series of pyrimidines related to the potent antiherpetic agent 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (1, BW B759U), all containing the same acyclic chain, have been synthesized. Some of the compounds were derivatives of the naturally occurring bases, cytosine, uracil, and thymine; others included compounds in which the 5-position of the cytosine and uracil moieties were substituted by bromo, iodo, fluoro, methyl, and amino groups. Other variations of the cytosine derivatives were the 5-aza, 2-mercapto, 4-methylamino, 4-dimethylamino, and isocytosine congeners. A 4-aminopyrimidine adduct was also made. Antiviral testing showed that 1-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]cytosine (18, BW A1117U) was equivalent to the guanine analogue in potency against human cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus. Other compounds in the series were largely inactive in antiviral screening against the herpesviruses.

Modifications on the heterocyclic base of acyclovir: syntheses and antiviral properties.

A group of compounds was prepared in which variations of the ring portion of the acyclovir (ACV) structure were made. These modifications included monocyclic (isocytosine, triazole, imidazole), bicyclic (8-azapurine, pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine, pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine) and tricyclic (linear benzoguanine) congeners. The derivatives were evaluated against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) by the plaque-inhibition and plaque-reduction methods with only the 8-azapurine analogue 28 showing some activity. In a test measuring the ability of these compounds to inhibit the HSV-1 thymidine kinase, 28 and the tricyclic derivative 38 exhibited competition with ACV for binding to the enzyme. The inability of the group to exert significant antiherpetic action is attributed to their lack of phosphorylation to the requisite triphosphate stage.

6-Deoxyacyclovir: a xanthine oxidase-activated prodrug of acyclovir.

Acyclovir [9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine] is an acyclic guanine nucleoside analogue that is widely used clinically as an antiherpetic agent. Its limited absorption in humans after oral administration prompted the search for prodrugs. A congener, referred to as 6- deoxyacyclovir [2-amino-9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-9H-purine], was synthesized and found to be 18 times more water soluble than was acyclovir. Surprisingly, this congener was readily oxidized to acyclovir by xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2). It was also oxidized by aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1) largely to 8-hydroxy-6- deoxyacyclovir [2-amino-8-hydroxy-9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-9H-purine] and then to 8- hydroxyacyclovir [2-amino-6,8-dihydroxy-9[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-9H-purine]. 6- Deoxyacyclovir and the major products of its oxidation by aldehyde oxidase lacked appreciable activity against herpes simplex type I in vitro. On the basis of these results, it was apparent that the success of 6- deoxyacyclovir as a prodrug in vivo would depend upon how well its desired activation by xanthine oxidase competed with the nonactivating oxidations by aldehyde oxidase. In rats dosed orally with 6- deoxyacyclovir , absorption was extensive and the major urinary metabolite was acyclovir. In two human volunteers, urinary excretions of acyclovir were 5-6 times greater than those typically observed after administration of equivalent doses of acyclovir itself. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curves for acyclovir were also 5-6 times greater. Plasma levels of acyclovir peaked soon after ingestion of the prodrug, indicating rapid absorption and metabolic conversion. These results suggested that 6- deoxyacyclovir might have clinical usefulness as a prodrug of acyclovir suitable for oral administration.