NUCLEOSIDES FOR TREATMENT OF INFECTION BY CORONAVIRUSES, TOGAVIRUSES AND PICORNA VIRUSES
CROSS-REFERENCE FOR THE INVENTION
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional No. 60/470,949, filed May 5 14, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the area of methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of viral infections, including the viral causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
o BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Coronaviruses (order Nidovirales, family Coronaviridae, genus Coronavirus) are a diverse group of positively (+)-stranded RNA viruses that have been implicated in causing a variety of pathological conditions in both humans and other animals (Rota, et al., Sciencexpress, May 1, 2003, pp. 1-10). The coronavirus is composed of an envelope5 and helical nucleocapsid with club-shaped surface projections that provide "attachment to cells, hemagglutination, and membrane fusion." (Biichen-Osmond, C. (Ed), (2003). 00.026.0.01. Coronaviridae. In: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 3. ICTVdB Management, The Earth Institute, Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia University, Oracle, AZ, USA). The complete genome is 25,000 to 33,000 nucleotides long and0 consists of a "single molecule of linear positive-sense single-stranded RNA (Biichen- Osmond, C. (Ed), (2003). 00.026.0.01. Coronaviridae. In: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 3. ICTVdB Management, The Earth Institute, Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia University, Oracle, AZ, USA). The Coronaviruses are broken up into three
distinct categories based upon antigenic relationships whereby groups I and II are mammalian viruses and group III is an avian virus (Rota, et al., Sciencexpress, May 1, 2003, pp. 1-10). Within each antigenic category (I, II, or III), the Coronaviruses are further classified based upon their narrow host range and genome organization (Rota, et al., Sciencexpress, May 1, 2003, pp. 1-10). The mammalian viruses for Antigenic group
I include human respiratory coronavirus (HCV-229E) (causes human respiratory infection), porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) (causes pig respiratory infection, enteric infection, infectious peritonitis, immunological disorders, runting, nephritis, pancreatitis, parotitis, and adenitis), canine coronavirus (CCV) (causes dog enteric infection), feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) (causes cat enteric infection), feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) (causes cat respiratory infection, enteric infection, hepatitis, neurologic infection, infectious peritonitis, immunological disorders, runting, nephritis, pancreatitis, parotitis, and adenitis), and rabbit coronavirus (RbCV) (causes rabbit , infectious peritonitis, immunological disorders, runting, nephritis, pancreatitis, parotitis, and adenitis) (KN. Holmes and M.M.C. Lai, "Coronaviridae: The viruses and their replication," Fields Virology, B.Ν. Fields, D.M. Knipe and P.M. Howley, Editiors; 1996, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, PA; Chpt. 34, pp. 1075-93). The mammalian viruses for Antigenic group II include human respiratory coronavirus (HCV-OC43) (causes human respiratory infection and may be implicated in enteric infections), mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) (causes mouse respiratory infection, enteric infection, hepatitis, and neurologic infection), sialodacryoadnavirus (SDAV) (causes rat neurologic infection), porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) (causes pig respiratory infection, enteric infection, and neurologic infection), bovine coronavirus (BCV) (causes cow enteric infection), rabbit enitis coronavirus (RbEVC) (causes rabbit enteric infection), and turkey coronavirus (TCV) (causes turkey respiratory infection, enteric infection, infectious peritonitis, immunological disorders, runting, nephritis, pancreatitis, parotitis, and adenitis) (KN. Holmes and M.M.C. Lai, "Coronaviridae: The viruses and their replication," Fields Virology, B.Ν. Fields, D.M. Knipe and P.M. Howley, Editiors; 1996, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, PA; Chpt. 34, pp. 1075-93). The avian virus for Antigenic group III include avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) (causes chicken respiratory infection, hepatitis, infectious peritonitis,
immunological disorders, runting, nephritis, pancreatitis, parotitis, and adenitis) (KN. Holmes and M.M.C. Lai, "Coronaviridae: The viruses and their replication," Fields Virology, B.Ν. Fields, D.M. Knipe and P.M. Howley, Editiors; 1996, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, PA; Chpt. 34, pp. 1075-93). The Togaviridae family of viruses are separated into two genera: the alphaviruses and the rubiviruses (Biichen-Osmond, C. (Ed), (2003). 00.026.0.01. Togaviridae. In: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 3. ICTVdB Management, The Earth Institute, Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia University, Oracle, AZ, USA). The complete genome of this family of viruses is composed of 9,700 to 11,800 nucleotides and contains "one molecule of linear positive-sense single stranded RΝA." This family of viruses infects both vertebrates and plants. The complete genome of the alphavirus genus of the Togaviridae family is 11,000 to 12,000 nucleotides and is composed of "one molecule of linear positive-sense single stranded RΝA (Bϋchen-Osmond, C. (Ed), (2003). 00.026.0.01. Alphavirus. In: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 3. ICTVdB Management, The Earth
Institute, Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia University, Oracle, AZ, USA). The alphaviruses, unlike the coronaviruses discussed above, have a broad host range and have the ability to replicate in a variety of cell types (S. Schlesinger and M.J. Schlesinger, "Togaviridae: The viruses and their replication," Fields Virology, B.Ν. Fields, D.M. Knipe and P.M. Howley, Editiors; 1996, Lippincott-Raven Publishers,
Philadelphia, PA; Chpt. 27, pp. 825-41). Among the viruses classified within this genus are the Sindbis virus,
Eastern/Western encephalitis viruses, Semliki Forest virus, and Ross River virus. The genus Rubivirus of the Togaviridae family are distinguished from alphaviruses on the basis of a limited host range. This genus consists of only the Rubella virus, which is found exclusively in humans. The Picornaviridae family of viruses are categorized as small, naked, icosahedral, RΝA-containing animal viruses that are separated into six genera: the rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, aphthoviruses, cardioviruses, hepatoviruses, and unassigned (R.R. Rueckert, "Picornaviridae: The viruses and their replication," Fields Virology,
B.N. Fields, D.M. Knipe and P.M. Howley, Editiors; 1996, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, PA; Chpt. 21, pp. 609-54). The genus rhinovirus includes the human rhinoviruses lA-100, IB, "Hanks," and bovine rhinoviruses 1, 2, and 3. The human rhinoviruses consist of at least 105 serotypes (a classification scheme based on the variation of surface epitopes) and represent the most common etiological agent for the common cold. This is a major point of economic concern as it results in lost work days for everyone and "predisposes [the young and elderly] to secondary bacterial infections - a major problem in infants and elderly, (retrieved from All the Virology on the World Wide Web, Internet URL: http://www.talane.edu/dmsanderAVWW/335/Picornaviruses.html)." The genus enterovirus, which inhabits the enteric track, is composed of a total of 95 serotypes. These serotypes include the Human polioviruses 1, 2, and 3 (A23- echo virus; echo = Enteric Cytopathic Human Orphan viruses ) (3 serotypes), Human coxsackieviruses Al-22, 24 (23 serotypes), Human coxsackieviruses Bl-6 (swine vesicular disease virus is very similar to coxsackie B5 virus) (6 serotypes), Human echoviruses 1-7, 9, 11-27, 29-34 (30 serotypes; these viruses show a seasonal, epidemic pattern of infection primarily associated with meningitis, paralysis (usually less severe than acute poliomyelitis), and myocarditis), Human enteroviruses 68-71 (4 serotypes), Vilyuisk virus (1 serotype), Simian enteroviruses 1-18 (18 serotypes), Bovine enteroviruses 1, 2 (2 serotypes), and Porcine enteroviruses 1-8 (8 serotypes) (R.R.
Rueckert, "Picornaviridae: The viruses and their replication," Fields Virology, B.N. Fields, D.M. Knipe and P.M. Howley, Editiors; 1996, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, PA; Chpt. 21, pp. 609-54). The genus apthovirus "infect[s] cloven-footed animals [with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)], especially cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep," while rarely infecting humans. The apthoviruses, therefore, have the potential to impose significant worldwide economic burdens when substantial numbers of cattle become infected. Further, this particular genus is highly labile and the complete genome consists of 100-170 nucleotides (retrieved from All the Virology on the World Wide Web, Internet URL: http://www.mlane.edu/dmsanderAVWW/335/Picornaviruses.html). While seven serotypes have been identified to date (A; C; O; SAT1,2,3; Asia-1), at least fifty-three subtypes have also been characterized.
The cardioviruses consist of two serotypes. Namely, Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus (a mouse virus that can infect humans, elephants, and squirrels; includes mengovirus, Maus-Elberfield virus, and the Columbia virus) and Theiler's murine encephalocyelitis (TME) virus (TO, GDVII) (R.R. Rueckert, "Picornaviridae: The viruses and their replication," Fields Virology, B.N. Fields, D.M. Knipe and P.M.
Howley, Editiors; 1996, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, PA; Chpt. 21, pp. 609-54). of EMCV (really a mouse virus, but can infect man, elephants, and squirrels). The last two genera of the Picornaviridae family are the Hepatovirus and the Unassigned. The Hepatovirus (1 serotype) has Human hepatitis virus A' as its sole member and the Unassigned genus (3 serotypes) includes the Equine rhinoviruses 1,2, cricket paralysis virus, and the Drosophila C virus. New to the mammalian coronavirus groups is the coronavirus causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a disease that threatens to become a global epidemic. Easily transmissible and capable of killing 4-15% of the people who contract it, SARS has spread rapidly from its place of origin in Guangdong Province, China, to most of the rest of the world; only Europe and South America are relatively unaffected by this disease, which is spread by travelers. It is believed to have begun in mid- November, 2002, although it was not recognized until late February, 2003 (Jane Parry, British Medical I., April 19, 2003, 326:839; Editorial Comment, British Medical J., April 19, 2003, 326:831-2). As of May 5, 2003, more than 6,000 patients from 29 countries have been diagnosed with the disease (C. Drosten and W. Preiser, Kamps- Hoffmann SARS Reference - 05/2003, May 12, 2003, retrieved from Bernd Sebastian Kamp, Internet URL: http://www.amedeo.com/sars/sars.htm). SARS is characterized by a non-specific onset and an incubation period of 2-10 days, both of which favor transmission among individuals. Transmission appears to occur by close contacts with infected individuals, thus suggesting that spread is via body secretions and fluids, but may also occur by droplets via aerosol routes. Usually the disease begins with a prodrome of fever greater than 38 °C, sometimes accompanied by chills, headaches, malaise and/or myalgias. Respiratory symptoms generally are mild at this early stage. However, at about day 3 to day 4, a dry cough or dyspnea, sore throat, and erythema on the trunk of the patient appear. These symptoms are accompanied by hypoxemia that may require mechanical intervention and bilateral chest opacifications.
While the chests of some patients remain clear, most patients exhibit foci of interstitial infiltrates that eventually become generalized, opaque patches or "crackles". Chest radiographs from some late stage SARS patients show areas of foci consolidation (Canada Communicable Disease Report, PREVIEW, 21 March 2003). Results of laboratory tests indicate elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and maximal levels of C-reactive protein at about day 7 or day 8, together with lymphopenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. A period of convalescence generally begins on about day 10 following infection except in about 4- 15% of the infected population in which the disease is fatal (Drosten et al., The New England Journal of Medicine Online, April 10, 2003, pp. 1-10). The etiologic agent responsible for SARS is a new coronavirus, SARS Co-V, first suggested by J. Peiris, C. Drosten, and T.G. Ksiazek working at three different research facilities. M. Peiris and his research group in Canada were first to successfully sequence the SARS Co-V genome, which was later confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control. They identified 11 open reading frames (ORFs) that correspond to regions predicted to encode a variety of polypeptides including polymerase proteins (polymerase la and lb), spike protein (S), small membrane protein (E), membrane protein (M), and nucleocapsid protein (N). The complete SARS Co-V genome comprises 29,727 nucleotides and has a structural organization that is similar to other coronaviruses. (Retrieved from the Center for Disease Control; Internet URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/sequence.html).
Moreover, a recent article by Rota, et al., however, lends further support that the SARS Co-V is phylogenetically distinct from any previously classified coronavirus and suggested that these unique genomic features may give rise to its infectious role in SARS (Rota, et al., Sciencexpress, May 1, 2003, pp. 1-10). Preliminary studies show that SARS Co-V is stable in feces and urine at room temperature for 1-2 days, and appears to have greater stability in higher pH stools from patients with diarrhea. Supematants of infected cells cultures show a minimal reduction in SARS Co-V concentration after 21 days at 4 °C. and -80 °C. A viral reduction of one log is observed after 48 hours at room temperature, indicating that this coronavirus is more stable than other known human coronaviruses. Inactivation of SARS Co-V is accomplished by heating to 56 °C, and infectivity is lost with exposure to certain fixatives and disinfectants (C. Drosten and W. Preiser, Kamps-Hojfmann SARS
Reference - 05/2003, May 12, 2003, retrieved from Bernd Sebastian Kamp, Internet URL: http://www.amedeo.com/sars/sars.htm'). To date, treatment of patients infected with SARS Co-V consists of administering Ribavirin, a broad spectrum anti-RNA-viral agent, however it is not very efficacious. Efforts also are underway to produce an anti-SARS vaccine, but this is expected to take
1-2 years to develop. Thus, there is an urgent need to find ways to treat patients with
SARS before a vaccine is available that can result in prevention of the disease. Examples of antiviral agents that have been identified as active against (+)-RNA viruses include interferon and ribavirin (Battaglia, A.M. et al., Ann. Pharmacother, 2000,. 34, 487-494); Berenguer, M. et al. Antivir. Ther., 1998, 3 (Suppl. 3), 125-136).
Interferon Interferons (IFNs) are glycoproteins produced by immune cells in response to viral infection. IFNs inhibit viral replication of many viruses, and are known to suppress serum viral RNA to undetectable levels. Additionally, IFN normalizes serum amino transf erase levels. Unfortunately, the effects of IFN are temporary and a sustained response occurs in only 8%-9% of patients with chronic viral infection (Gary L. Davis. Gastroenterology 118:S104-S114, 2000). Interferons (IFNs) have been commercially available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis for nearly a decade. In addition, a number of patents disclose anti-viral treatments using interferon-based therapies. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,928,636 to
Alber et al. discloses the combination therapy of interleukin-12 and interferon alpha for the treatment of infectious diseases. U.S. Patent No. 5,908,621 to Glue et al. discloses the use of polyethylene glycol modified interferon for the treatment of viral infections. U.S. Patent No. 5,849,696 to Chretien et al. discloses the use of thymosins, alone or in combination with interferon, for treating viral infections. U.S. Patent No. 5,830,455 to
Valtuena et al. discloses a combination anti-viral therapy employing interferon and a free radical scavenger. U.S. Patent No. 5,738,845 to Imakawa discloses the use of human interferon tau proteins for treating viral infections. Other interferon-based treatments are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,676,942 to Testa et al, U.S. Patent No. 5,372,808 to Blatt et al, and U.S. Patent No. 5,849,696.
Ribavirin (l-β-D-ribofuranosyl-l-l,2,4-triazole-3-carboxarnide) is a synthetic, non-interferon-inducing, broad spectrum antiviral nucleoside analog. It is sold under the trade names Virazole™ (The Merck Index, 11th edition, Editor: Budavari, S., Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, pl304, 1989); Rebetol (Schering Plough) and Co-Pegasus
(Roche). United States Patent No. 3,798,209 and RE29,835 (ICN Pharmaceuticals) disclose and claim ribavirin. Ribavirin is structurally similar to guanosine, and has in vitro activity against several DNA and RNA viruses (Gary L. Davis. Gastroenterology 2000, 118:S104-S114). U.S. Patent No 4,211,771 (to ICN Pharmaceuticals) discloses the use of ribavirin as an antiviral agent. Ribavirin (Battaglia, A.M. et al., Ann.
Pharmacother, 2000,. 34, 487-494; Berenguer, M. et al. Antivir. Ther., 1998, 3 (Suppl. 3), 125-136). Ribavirin reduces serum amino transferase levels to normal in 40% of patients, but it does not lower viral serum levels (Gary L. Davis. Gastroenterology 2000, 118:S104-S114). Thus, ribavirin alone is not effective in reducing viral RNA levels.
Additionally, ribavirin has significant toxicity and is known to induce anemia.
Combination of Interferon and Ribavirin Schering-Plough sells ribavirin as Rebetol® capsules (200 mg). The U.S. FDA has approved Rebetol capsules to treat chronic viral infection in combination with
Schering' s alpha interferon-2b products Intron® A and PEG-Intron™. Rebetol capsules are not approved for monotherapy (i.e., administration independent of Intron® A or PEG- Intron™), although Intron® A and PEG-Intron™ are approved for monotherapy (i.e., administration without ribavirin). Hoffman La Roche is selling ribavirin under the name CoPegus in Europe and the United States, also for use in combination with interferon for the treatment of viral infection. Other alpha interferon products include Roferon-A (Hoffmann-La Roche), Infergen® (Intermune, formerly Amgen' s product), and Wellferon® (Wellcome Foundation). The combination of IFN and ribavirin for the treatment of viral infection has been reported to be effective in the treatment of IFN naϊ've patients (Battaglia, A.M. et al,
Ann. Pharmacother. 34:487-494, 2000). However, the side effects of combination
therapy can be significant and include hemolysis, flu-like symptoms, anemia, and fatigue (Gary L. Davis. Gastroenterology 118:S104-S114, 2000).
Other examples of antiviral agents that have been identified as active against certain (+)-RNA viruses are: (1) Substrate-based NS3 protease inhibitors (for example, Attwood et al., Antiviral peptide derivatives, PCT WO 98/22496, 1998; Attwood et al., Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy 1999, 10, 259-273; Attwood et al., Preparation and use of amino acid derivatives as anti-viral agents, German Patent Pub. DE 19914474; Tung et al. Inhibitors of serine proteases, PCT WO 98/17679), including alphaketoamides and hydrazinoureas, and inhibitors that terminate in an electrophile such as a boronic acid or phosphonate (for example, Llinas-Brunet et al, PCT WO 99/07734); (2) Non-substrate-based inhibitors such as 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-nitro-benzamide derivatives (for example, Sudo K. et al., Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1997, 238, 643-647; Sudo K. et al. Antiviral Chemistry and
Chemotherapy, 1998, 9, 186), including RD3-4082 and RD3-4078, the former substituted on the amide with a 14 carbon chain and the latter processing a para- phenoxyphenyl group; (3) Thiazolidine derivatives that show relevant inhibition in a reverse-phase HPLC assay (for example, Sudo K. et al, Antiviral Research, 1996, 32, 9-18), especially compound RD- 1-6250, possessing a fused cinnamoyl moiety substituted with a long alkyl chain, RD4 6205 and RD4 6193; (4) Thiazolidines and benzanilides for example, identified in Kakiuchi N. et al. J. EBS Letters 421, 217-220; Takeshita N. et al. Analytical Biochemistry, 1997, 247, 242- 246; (5) A phenanthrenequinone possessing activity against protease in a SDS-PAGE and autoradiography assay isolated from the fermentation culture broth of Streptomyces sp., for example, Sch 68631 (for example, Chu M. et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 1996, 37, 7229-7232), and Sch 351633, isolated from the fungus Penicϊllium griscofuluum, which
demonstrates activity in a scintillation proximity assay (for example, Chu M. et al., Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 9, 1949-1952); (6) Selective NS3 inhibitors based on the macromolecule elgin c, isolated from leech (for example, Qasim M.A. et al, Biochemistry, 1997, 36, 1598-1607); (7) Polymerase inhibitors such as nucleotide analogues, gliotoxin (for example,
Ferrari R. et al. Journal of Virology, 1999, 73, 1649-1654), and the natural product cerulenin (for example, Lohmann V. et al, Virology, 1998, 249, 108-118); (8) Antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (S-ODN) complementary to sequence stretches in the 5' non-coding region (NCR) of the vims (for example, Alt M. et al, Hepatology, 1995, 22, 707-717); (9) Inhibitors of IRES-dependent translation (for example, Ikeda N et al, Agent for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C, Japanese Patent Pub. JP-08268890; Kai Y. et al. Prevention and treatment of viral diseases, Japanese Patent Pub. JP-10101591); (10) Nuclease-resistant ribozymes (for example, Maccjak, D. J. et al., Hepatology 1999, 30, abstract 995); (11) Nucleoside analogs have also been developed for the treatment of viral infections; (12) Other miscellaneous compounds including 1-amino-alkylcyclohexanes (for example, U.S. Patent No. 6,034,134 to Gold et al), alkyl lipids (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,757 to Chojkier et al), vitamin E and other antioxidants (for example, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,922,757 to Chojkier et al), squalene, amantadine, bile acids (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,964 to Ozeki et al), N-(phosphonoacetyl)-L-aspartic acid (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,905 to Diana et al), benzenedicarboxamides (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,388 to Diana et al), polyadenylic acid derivatives (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,546 to Wang et al), 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,026,687 to Yarchoan et al), and benzimidazoles (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,874 to Colacino et al); and (13) Other compounds currently in clinical development for treatment of a coronavirus, togavirus, and/or picomavirus infection, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent.
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. discloses branched nucleosides, and their use in the treatment of HCV and flaviviruses and pestiviruses in US Patent Publication No. 2003/0050229 Al and US Patent Publication No. 2003/0060400 Al, which correspond to International Publication Nos. WO 01/90121 and WO 01/92282. A method for the treatment of hepatitis C infection (and flaviviruses and pestiviruses) in humans and other host animals is disclosed in the Idenix publications that includes administering an effective amount of a biologically active 1', 2', 3' or 4' -branched β-D or β-L nucleosides or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, administered either alone or in combination, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. See also U.S. Patent
Publication Nos. 2004/0006002 and 2004/0006007 as well as WO 03/026589 and WO 03/026675. Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. also discloses in US Patent Publication No. 2004/0077587 pharmaceutically acceptable branched nucleoside prodrugs, and their use in the treatment of HCV and flavi vimses and pestiviruses in prodmgs. See also PCT Publication Nos. WO 04/002422, WO 04/002999, and WO 04/003000. ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discloses various nucleoside analogs that are useful in modulating immune response in US Patent Nos. 6,495,677 and 6,573,248. See also WO 98/16184, WO 01/68663, and WO 02/03997. US Patent Publication Nos. 2003/083307 Al and US 2003/008841 Al, and the corresponding International Patent Publication Nos. WO 02/18404 (PCT/EPOl/09633; published August 21, 2001); WO 02/100415 and WO 02/094289, filed by F. Hoffmann- La Roche AG discloses various nucleoside analogs for the treatment of HCV RNA replication. Pharmasset Limited discloses various nucleosides and antimetabolites for the treatment of a variety of vimses, in WO 02/32920, WO 01/79246, WO 02/48165, WO
03/068162, WO 03/068164 and 2004/013298. Merck & Co., Inc. and Isis Pharmaceuticals disclose in US Patent Publication No.
2002/0147160 and the corresponding International Patent Publication Nos. WO
02/057425 (PCT US02/01531; filed January 18, 2002) and WO 02/057287 (PCT/US02/03086; filed January 18, 2002) various nucleosides, and in particular several pyrrolopyrimidine nucleosides, for the treatment of vimses whose replication is
dependent upon RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. See also WO 03/068244, WO 04/003138, WO 04/007512, and WO 04/009020. US Patent Publication No. 2003/028013 Al as well as International Patent Publication Nos. WO 03/051899, WO 03/061576, WO 03/062255 WO 03/062256, WO 03/062257, and WO 03/061385, filed by Ribapharm, also are directed to the use of certain nucleoside analogs to treat viral infections.
In view of the severity of diseases associated with coronaviruses, toga vimses, and picomavimses and their pervasiveness in animals and humans, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compound, method and composition for the treatment of a host infected with any one of these (+)-stranded RNA vimses. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a compound, composition, and method of use for the treatment of a host, especially a human, infected with the SARS coronavirus in an attempt to halt the spread of SARS. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and pharmaceutically-acceptable composition for the prophylaxis and treatment of a host, and particularly a human, infected with a togavirus, picomavims and/or a coronavims, and SARS-CoV in particular. It is still another object of the invention to provide compounds and physiologically acceptable salts, esters or prodrugs thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament to be used in the prophylaxis or treatment of a host infected with a togavims, picomavims and/or a coronavims, and especially SARS-CoV.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Methods and compositions for the treatment of infections caused by a coronavirus, togavims or picomavims are described that include administering an effective amount of a β-D or β-L-nucleoside of the formula below or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.
In a first principal embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavirus or picomavims is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (AA), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodmg thereof:
AA or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, wherein: R
1 is H, phosphate or phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodmg); optionally substituted acyl (including lower acyl); optionally substituted alkyl (including lower alkyl); optionally substituted sulfonate ester including alkyl or arylalkyl sulfonyl such as methanesulfonyl; optionally substituted aryl; optionally substituted benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; optionally substituted arylsulfonyl; a lipid, including a phospholipid; an amino acid derivative; a carbohydrate; a peptide; cholesterol; or a pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides a compound wherein R
1 is independently H or phosphate; each R
2 and R
4 independently is H, OH, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted alkenyl, an optionally substituted alkynyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), NO
2, NH
2, N
3, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2C(A)
3, SCN, OCN, NCO, haloalkenyl, Br-vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)SR
13; -O(alkenyl), -(CH
2)
mNHR
13, -(CH
2)
mN(R
13)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
13)
2, -C(O)OR
13, -O(R
13), an optionally substituted carbocycle, an optionally substituted heterocycle, an
optionally substituted heteroaryl (preferably a heteroaromatic ring having one or more O, S and/or N atoms), or C
3-7 cycloalkylamino; each R
3, R
5 and R
6 independently is H, OH, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted alkenyl, an optionally substituted alkynyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), NO
2, NH
2, N
3, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2C(A)
3, SCN, OCN, NCO, haloalkenyl, Br-vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)SR
13; -O(alkenyl), -(CH
2)
mNHR
13, -(CH
2)
mN(R
13)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
13)
2, -C(O)OR
13, -O(R
13), an optionally substituted carbocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered carbocyclic ring such as, for example, a C
3-7 cycloalkylamino), an optionally substituted heterocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered heterocyclic ring having one or more O, S and/or N), an optionally substituted heteroaryl (preferably a heteroaromatic ring having one or more O, S and/or N atoms), a C
3-7 cycloalkylamino, CF
3, mercapto, optionally substituted C
1-4 alkyl,
-12 alkoxy, C
2-4alkenyl, C
2-4 alkynyl, C -
6 alkenyloxy, C
1-4 alkylthio, Cι
-8 alkylcarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, Cι
-4 alkylamino, di(Cι- alkyl)amino, Br- vinyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), O-phosphate or O-phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodrug); O-acyl (including lower acyl); O-alkyl (including lower alkyl); O-sulfonate ester including O-alkyl or O- arylalkyl sulfonyl including O-methanesulfonyl; O-aryl; O-benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; -OC(O)O-aryl; -OC(O)O-aralkyl; -S(acyl); -S(alkyl); -S(alkenyl); optionally substituted O-arylsulfonyl; an O- linked lipid, including an O-phospholipid; an O-linked amino acid; an O-linked carbohydrate; an O-linked peptide; O-linked cholesterol; or other O-linked pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides independently OH or O-phosphate; each R
7 is independently H, -OR
1, -OH, -NO
2, -CF
3, -NH
2, CI, F, Br, I, N
3, CN, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl or alkynyl, Br-vinyl, -CH
2OH, -O(R), alkoxy, -(CH
2)
mC(O)O(R), -OC(O)O-aryl, -OC(O)O-aralkyl, -SR, -(CH
2)
mNHR, -(CH
2)
mN(R)
2, or C
3-7 cycloalkylamino;
each R is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, aryl or aralkyl;
X is O, S, SO2, CH2, or CHOH; m is 0, 1 or 2;
R13 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, aryl or aralkyl;
A is H, OH, C alkyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), azido, cyano, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, Br-vinyl, 2-Br-ethyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), -C(O)O(lower alkyl), -O(acyl), -O(lower acyl), -O(alkyl), -O(lower alkyl), -O(alkenyl), CF3, NO2, NH2, -NH(lower alkyl), -NH(acyl), -N(lower alkyl)2, or -N(acyl)2; and
Base is as defined in the specification, including a purine or pyrimidine or a compound including but not limited to:
wherein: each R
8, R , 10 , R , R , 1
I2 and R .13 i •ndependently is H, NH
2, SH, CF
3, halo, NO
2, N
3, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl (preferably optionally substituted phenyl), -NH-cycloalkyl, -NH-cycloalkenyl, -NH-heterocycle, -NH-heteroaryl, -O-cycloalkyl, -O-cycloalkenyl, -O-heterocycle, -O- heteroaryl, C
1-4 alkylamino, di(Cι
-4 alkyl)amino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, Ci.
4 alkyl-C(=O)OH, C
M alkyl-C(=O)O-aryl (preferably C
1-4 alkyl-C(=O)O- phenyl), Cμ alkyl-C(=O)O-heterocycle, C alkyl-C(=O)O-heteroaryl, or C
1-4 alkoxy; and
R
9 is O or S; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the compound for use in the present invention is in the form of its 2', 3', and/or 5 '-prodmg. In one embodiment, the compound is a prodmg that includes biologically cleavable moieties at the 2', 3' and or
5' positions. In one embodiment, the compound is an acyl prodrug with biologically cleavable acyl moieties at the 2', 3' and/or 5' positions. In a particular embodiment, the compound is an amino acid ester prodmg with biologically cleavable amino acid moieties at the 2', 3' and/or 5' positions. Preferred moieties are amino acid esters including valyl, and alkyl esters including acetyl. Therefore, this invention specifically includes the 2'-L-amino acid ester, 3'-L-amino acid ester, 2',5'-L-diamino acid ester, and 3',5'-L-diamino acid ester of the nucleosides of the present invention; and the 2'- ester, 3'-ester, 2',5'-diester and 3',5'-diester of the nucleosides wherein (i) the 2' and/or 3' ester is an amino acid ester and the 5 '-ester is an alkyl or aryl ester; (ii) both esters are amino acid esters; (iii) both esters are independently alkyl or aryl esters; and (iv) the 2' and/or 3' ester is independently an alkyl or aryl ester and the 5 '-ester is an amino acid ester. In one embodiment, the active compounds of the present invention can be administered in combination, alternation or sequential steps with another antiviral agent, including an anti-(+)-stranded RNA vims agent. In preferred embodiments, an anti-(+)- stranded RNA vims compound is used that exhibits an EC50 of less than 10 μM, and preferably less than 1-5 μM. It is intended that the active compounds of the present invention include both β-D and β-L nucleoside compounds of the general formula (AA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodmg thereof; a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of these compounds; a medicament comprising one or more of these compounds; and a process for preparing such a composition and/or medicament.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows exemplified compounds of the invention. Figure 2 shows a phylogenetic tree of the SARS-associated coronavims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a compound, method and composition for the treatment of a host, and in particular a human or an animal, infected with a (+)-stranded RNA vims that is a coronavims, such as SARS-CoV, a togavims, such as a rubiviras (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), or a picomavirus, such as an enterovims (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enterovims species), a rhinovirus, a cardiovims and an aphthoviras. This treatment includes administering an effective amount of an anti-coronavims, anti-togavirus, or anti-picornavirus β-D- or β-L- nucleoside as described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodmg thereof, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The compounds of this invention either possess antiviral activity, or are metabolized to a compound that exhibits such activity. All coronavimses, togavimses and picornaviruses are intended for inclusion within the scope of this invention. In particular, the invention is directed to:
• the SARS-CoV coronavims; • human and avian coronaviruses;
• Togavimses such as, for example, mbivimses that cause rubella and alphaviruses that cause encephalitis; and
• Picornaviruses, including all four (4) major genera of enteroviruses (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enterovims species), rhinoviruses, cardiovimses and aphthovimses.
The coronaviruses that can be treated according to this invention includes, but are not limited to, human respiratory coronavirus (HCV-229E), porcine transmissible gastroenteritis vims (TGEV), canine coronavims (CCV), feline enteric coronavims (FECV), feline infectious peritonitis vims (FIPV), rabbit coronavims (RbCV), human respiratory coronavirus (HCV-OC43), mouse hepatitis vims (MHV), sialodacryoadnavirus (SDAV), porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis vims (HEV), bovine coronavims (BCV), rabbit enitis coronavims (RbEVC), turkey coronavirus (TCV), and avian infectious bronchitis vims (IBV). Togavimses that can be treated according to the present invention includes, but are not limited, alphavimses (such as for example Sindbis virus, EasternAVestern encephalitis vimses, Semliki Forest vims, and Ross River vims) and mbivimses (such as for example Rubella vims). Picomavimses that can be treated according to the present invention includes, but are not limited to, the rhinovimses (such as for example human rhinoviruses lA-100, IB, "Hanks," and bovine rhinovimses 1, 2, and 3), enteroviruses (such as for example human poliovimses 1, 2, and 3 (A23-echovirus; echo = Enteric Cytopathic Human Orphan vimses ) (3 serotypes), human coxsackievimses Al-22, 24 (23 serotypes), human coxsackieviruses Bl-6, human echovirases 1-7, 9, 11-27, 29, human enterovimses 68-71 (4 serotypes), vilyuisk vims (1 serotype), simian enterovimses 1-18 (18 serotypes), bovine enteroviruses 1, 2 (2 serotypes), and porcine enteroviruses 1-8 (8 serotypes)), aphthoviruses (such as for example foot-and-mouth disease vims (FMDV)), cardioviruses(such as for example encephalomyocarditis (EMC) vims, mengovirus, Maus-Elberfield virus, Columbia virus, and Theiler's murine encephalocyelitis (TME) vims (TO, GDVII)), hepatovimses (such as for example human hepatitis virus A), and unassigned (such as for example equine rhinovimses 1,2, cricket paralysis virus, and the drosophila C vims).
In particular, the present invention provides the following: a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVHI), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of
an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent; b) a pharmaceutical composition comprising a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVHT), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, with one or more other effective antiviral agents (for example other effective anti-coronavims, such as anti-SARS- CoV, anti-togavims, such as anti-rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and anti- alphavims (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or anti-picornavirus, such as anti-enterovirus (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enterovims species), anti-rhinovims, anti-cardiovims and anti- aphthovims, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent), optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent; c) a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of a coronavims, such as SARS-CoV, a togavirus, such as a rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavims, such as an enterovims (particularly Coxsackievimses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enterovims species), a rhinovirus, a cardiovims and an aphthoviras infection, in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human, especially a host diagnosed as having or being at risk for such infection, comprising a β-D- or β-L- nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVUI), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent; d) a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of a coronavims, such as SARS-CoV, a togavirus, such as a rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavims, such as an enterovims (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enterovims species), a rhinovims, a cardiovims and an aphthoviras infection, in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human, especially a host diagnosed as having or being at risk for such infection, comprising a β-D- or β-L- nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, with one or more other effective antiviral agents (for example other effective anti-coronavims,
such as anti-SARS-CoV, anti-togavims, such as anti-rubivims (the causative agent for rubella) and anti-alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or anti- picornavirus, such as anti-enteroviras (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enterovims species), anti-rhinovirus, anti-cardiovirus and anti-aphthovirus, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent), optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent; e) a pharmaceutical formulation comprising the β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIJI), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent; f) a method for the treatment of a coronavims, such as SARS-CoV, a togavirus, such as a mbivims (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavims (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavirus, such as an enterovims (particularly Coxsackievimses, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enteroviras species), a rhinovirus, a cardio virus and an aphthoviras, infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human, comprising a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIU), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent; g) a method for the treatment of a coronavims, such as SARS-CoV, a togavirus, such as a rubivims (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavirus, such as an enterovims (particularly Coxsackievimses, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enteroviras species), a rhinovims, a cardiovims and an aphthoviras, infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human, comprising a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIIJ.), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, with one or more other effective antiviral agents, such as one or more other anti-coronavims, such as anti-SARS-CoV, anti-togavims, such as anti-rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and anti-alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or anti- picornavirus, such as anti-enteroviras (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enteroviras species), anti-rhinovirus,
anti-cardiovirus and anti-aphthovims, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent, optionally with a, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent; h) a method for the treatment of a SARS-CoV infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human, comprising a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIH), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent; i) a method for the treatment of a SARS-CoV infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human, comprising a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, with one or more other effective antiviral agents, such as one or more other anti-coronavims, such as anti-SARS-CoV, anti- togavirus, such as anti-rabiviras (the causative agent for rubella) and anti-alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or anti-picornavirus, such as anti- enteroviras (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enteroviras species), anti-rhinovirus, anti-cardiovims and anti- aphthovirus, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent; j) use of a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, for the treatment of a coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV, a togavirus, such as a mbivims (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavirus, such as an enteroviras (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enteroviras species), a rhinovirus, a cardiovirus and an aphthoviras infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human; k) use of a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, with one or more other effective antiviral agents, such as an anti- coronavims, such as anti-SARS-CoV, anti-togavims, such as anti-rubivirus (the
causative agent for rubella) and anti-alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or anti-picomavims, such as anti-enterovirus (particularly Coxsackievimses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enteroviras species), anti- rhinovirus, anti-cardiovims and anti-aphthovirus, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, for the treatment of a coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV, a togavirus, such as a rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavirus, such as an enteroviras (particularly Coxsackievimses, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enteroviras species), a rhinovirus, a cardiovims and an aphthoviras infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human;
1) use of a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a coronavirus, such as SARS- CoV, a togavirus, such as a rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavirus, such as an enteroviras (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enteroviras species), a rhinovirus, a cardiovirus and an aphthoviras infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human; m) use of a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, with one or more other effective antiviral agents, such as an anti- coronavirus, such as anti-SARS-CoV, anti-togavims, such as anti-rabivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and anti-alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or anti-picomavims, such as anti-enterovirus (particularly Coxsackieviruses, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echoviruses and the four human enteroviras species), anti- rhinovirus, anti-cardioviras and anti-aphthovirus, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent, optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a coronavims, such as SARS-CoV, a togavirus, such as a rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavims, such as an enterovims
(particularly Coxsackievirases, poliovimses, hepatitis A, echovimses and the four human enteroviras species), a rhinovirus, a cardiovims and an aphthoviras infection in a host, such as a mammal, for example a human; n) a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, substantially in the absence of enantiomers of the described nucleoside, or substantially isolated from other chemical entities; o) a process for the preparation of a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, as provided in more detail below; p) a process for the preparation of a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, substantially in the absence of enantiomers of the described nucleoside or substantially isolated from other chemical entities; and q) a β-D- or β-L-nucleoside compound of the general Formula (AA), (I-XXVIH), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodmg, thereof;
I. Active Compounds, Physiologically Acceptable Salts and Prodrugs Thereof
Methods, uses and compositions for the treatment of a coronavirus, such as SARS- CoV, a togavirus, such as a rubivirus (the causative agent for rubella) and an alphavirus
(the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or a picomavims, such as an enterovims (particularly Coxsackievirases, polioviruses, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enteroviras species), a rhinovirus, a cardiovims and an aphthoviras, infection are described that include administering an effective amount of a β-D or β-L-nucleoside of the general formula below, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodmg thereof.
In a principal embodiment, use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavims or picomavirus is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (AA):
AA or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, wherein: R
1 is H, phosphate or phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodrug); optionally substituted acyl (including lower acyl); optionally substituted alkyl (including lower alkyl); optionally substituted sulfonate ester including alkyl or arylalkyl sulfonyl such as methanesulfonyl; optionally substituted aryl; optionally substituted benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; optionally substituted arylsulfonyl; a lipid, including a phospholipid; an amino acid derivative; a carbohydrate; a peptide; cholesterol; or other pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides a compound wherein R
1 is independently H or phosphate; each R
2 and R
4 independently is H, OH, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted alkenyl, an optionally substituted alkynyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), NO
2, NH
2, N
3, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2C(A)
3, SCN, OCN, NCO, haloalkenyl, Br-vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)SR
13; -O(alkenyl), -(CH
2)
mNHR
13, -(CH
2)
mN(R
13)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
13)
2, -C(O)OR
13, -O(R
13), an optionally substituted carbocycle, an optionally substituted heterocycle, an optionally substituted heteroaryl (preferably a heteroaromatic ring having one or more O, S and/or N atoms), or C
3- cycloalkylamino;
each R , R and R independently is H, OH, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted alkenyl, an optionally substituted alkynyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), NO
2, NH
2, N
3, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2C(A)
3, SCN, OCN, NCO, haloalkenyl, Br-vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)SR
13; -O(alkenyl), -(CH
2)
mNHR
13, -(CH
2)
raN(R
13)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
13)
2, -C(O)OR
13, -O(R
13), an optionally substituted carbocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered carbocyclic ring such as, for example, a C
3- cycloalkylamino), an optionally substituted heterocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered heterocyclic ring having one or more O, S and/or N), an optionally substituted heteroaryl (preferably a heteroaromatic ring having one or more O, S and/or N atoms), a C
3-7 cycloalkylamino, CF
3, mercapto, optionally substituted C
1-4 alkyl, Cι_ι alkoxy, C
2-4alkenyl, C
2-4 alkynyl, C
2-6 alkenyloxy, C
M alkylthio, C
1-8 alkylcarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, Cι
-4 alkylamino, di(C
M alkyl)amino, Br- vinyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), O-phosphate or O-phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodrug); O-acyl (including lower acyl); O-alkyl (including lower alkyl); O-sulfonate ester including O-alkyl or O- arylalkyl sulfonyl including O-methanesulfonyl; O-aryl; O-benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; -OC(O)O-aryl; -OC(O)O-aralkyl; -S(acyl); -S(alkyl); -S(alkenyl); optionally substituted O-arylsulfonyl; an O- linked lipid, including an O-phospholipid; an O-linked amino acid; an O-linked carbohydrate; an O-linked peptide; O-linked cholesterol; or other O-linked pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides independently OH or O-phosphate; each R
7 is independently H, -OR
1, -OH, -NO
2, -CF
3, -NH
2, CI, F, Br, I, N
3, CN, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl or alkynyl, Br-vinyl, -CH
2OH, -O(R), alkoxy, -(CH
2)
mC(O)O(R), -OC(O)O-aryl, -OC(O)O-aralkyl, -SR, -(CH
2)
mNHR, -(CH
2)
mN(R)
2, or C
3-7 cycloalkylamino; each R is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, aryl or aralkyl;
X is O, S, SO2, CH2, or CHOH;
m is 0, 1 or 2; R13 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, aryl or aralkyl; A is H, OH, C1-4 alkyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), azido, cyano, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, Br-vinyl, 2-Br-ethyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), -C(O)O(lower alkyl), -O(acyl), -O(lower acyl), -O(alkyl), -O(lower alkyl), -O(alkenyl), CF3, NO2, NH2, -NH(lower alkyl), -NH(acyl), -N(lower alkyl)2, or -N(acyl)2; and Base is as defined in the specification, including a purine or pyurimidine base or a compound including but not limited to:
wherein: each R
8, R
10, R
11, R
12 and R
13 independently is H, NH
2, SH, CF
3, halo, NO
2, N
3, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl (preferably optionally substituted phenyl), -NH-cycloalkyl, -NH-cycloalkenyl, -NH-heterocycle, -NH-heteroaryl, -O-cycloalkyl, -O-cycloalkenyl, -O-heterocycle, -O- heteroaryl, C
M alkylamino, di(CM alkyl)amino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, .
4 alkyl-C(=O)OH, C
M alkyl-C(=O)O-aryl (preferably C
1-4 alkyl-C(=O)O- phenyl), C alkyl-C(=O)O-heterocycle, C
1-4 alkyl-C(=O)O-heteroaryl, or C
M alkoxy; and R
9 is O or S; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, methods and compositions for the treatment of SARS- CoV, coronavims, togavirases, and/or picornaviruses infection, or more generally any (+)-RNA viral infection, are described that include administering an effective amount of a β-D or β-L-nucleoside of the Formulae (I) - (XXVHI), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodmg thereof. In a yet another embodiment, use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togaviras or picomavims is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (I):
(I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, wherein: R
1 is H, phosphate or phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodrug); optionally substituted acyl (including lower acyl); optionally substituted alkyl (including lower alkyl); optionally substituted sulfonate ester including alkyl or arylalkyl sulfonyl such as methanesulfonyl; optionally substituted aryl; optionally substituted benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; optionally substituted arylsulfonyl; a lipid, including a phospholipid; an amino acid derivative; a carbohydrate; a peptide; cholesterol; or other pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides a compound wherein R
1 is independently H or phosphate; each R
3 and R
5 independently is H, OH, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted alkenyl, an optionally substituted alkynyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), NO , NH
2, N
3, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1,
CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2C(A)
3, SCN, OCN, NCO, haloalkenyl, Br-vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)SR
13; -O(alkenyl), -(CH
2)
mNHR
13, -(CH
2)
mN(R
13)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
13)
2, -C(O)OR
13, -O(R
13), an optionally substituted carbocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered carbocyclic ring such as, for example, a C
3. cycloalkylamino), an optionally substituted heterocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered heterocyclic ring having one or more O, S and/or N), an optionally substituted heteroaryl (preferably a heteroaromatic ring having one or more O, S and/or N atoms), a C
3-7 cycloalkylamino, CF
3, mercapto, optionally substituted C
1-4 alkyl, .ι
2 alkoxy, C
2-4alkenyl, C
2-4 alkynyl, C
2-6 alkenyloxy, C alkylthio, Cι
-8 alkylcarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, C
1-4 alkylamino, di(C alkyl)amino, Br-vinyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), O-phosphate or O- phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodrug); O-acyl (including lower acyl); O-alkyl (including lower alkyl); O- sulfonate ester including O-alkyl or O-arylalkyl sulfonyl including O- methanesulfonyl; O-aryl; O-benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; -OC(O)O-aryl; -OC(O)O-aralkyl; -S(acyl); -S(alkyl); -S(alkenyl); optionally substituted O-arylsulfonyl; an O-linked lipid, including an O- phospholipid; an O-linked amino acid; an O-linked carbohydrate; an O-linked peptide; O-linked cholesterol; or other O-linked pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides independently OH or O- phosphate;
X is O, S, SO2, CH2, CHOH, CH-halogen, C-(halogen)2; m is 0, 1 or 2; R4 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, aryl or aralkyl;
A is H, OH, Cι-4 alkyl, halo, azido, cyano, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, Br-vinyl, 2-Br- ethyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), -C(O)O(lower alkyl), -O(acyl), -O(lower acyl), -O(alkyl), -O(lower alkyl), -O(alkenyl), CF3, NO2, NH2, -NH(lower alkyl), -NH(acyl), -N(lower alkyl)2, or -N(acyl)2; and
Base is defined in the specification, including but not limited to:
(i) (i') wherein: Y is O or S; Y' is H, OH, SH, NH
2, halo, CF
3, C alkyl, C
M alkylamino, di(C
1-4 alkyl)amino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, or C
1-4 alkoxy; Z is H, NH
2, CF
3, C
1- alkyl, C
M alkylamino, di(CM alkyl)amino, or C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavims or picomavims is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (H):
(II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, wherein: R
1, R
3, and R
5 are defined as above; R' is H, OH, SH, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), optionally substituted C
1- alkyl, optionally substituted C
2-4 alkenyl or C
2-4 alkynyl, N
3, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br- ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2(A)
3, haloalkenyl, Br- vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
4, -O(acyl), -O(lower acyl), -O(alkyl),
-O(lower alkyl), -O(alkenyl), -NO* -NH
2, -(CH
2)
mNHR
4, -(CH
2)
mN(R
4)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
4, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
4)
2, or C
3-7 cycloalkylamino, and where the optional substitutions on alkyl, alkenyl and/or alkynyl may be one or more halogen, hydroxy, amino, alkoxy, or alkylthio groups or atoms taken in any combination; or alternatively R' and R
5, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted 3- to 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring that optionally may have one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S, N, or P; A is H, OH, C
1- alkyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), azido, cyano, C
2-6 alkenyl, C
2-6 alkynyl, Br-vinyl, 2-Br-ethyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), -C(O)O(lower alkyl), -O(acyl), -O(lower acyl), -O(alkyl), -O(lower alkyl), -O(alkenyl), CF
3, NO
2, NH
2, -NH(lower alkyl), -NH(acyl), -N(lower alkyl)
2, or -N(acyl)
2; m is 0, 1 or 2; R
4 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or acyl; X is defined as above; and Base is as in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavirus or picomavims is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (HI):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, wherein:
R , R , R , R' and A are all as defined above; or R' and R , together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted 3- to 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring that optionally may have one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S, N, or P; X is defined as above; and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavims, togavirus or picomavims is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (IV):
(IV) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrag, thereof, wherein: R
1, R
3, R
5, and R' are all as defined above, except that R' is -OH, -SH or -NH
2 only when X is C; X is as defined above; and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavirus or picomavirus is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (V):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrag, or salt of a prodrag, thereof, wherein: R
1, R
3, R
5, and R' are all as defined above; X is as defined above; and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavims or picomavims is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (VI):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, wherein: R
1, R
3, R
5 and R' are all as defined above; X
* is CH, C-OH, or C-halogen (wherein halogen includes F, CI, Br, and I); and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togaviras or picomavirus is provided wherein the compound is of the formulas (Vπ), (Viπ), (IX), or (X):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodrug, thereof, wherein: R
1, R
3, R
5, R' are all as defined above; X is defined as above; is an optionally substituted carbocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered carbocyclic ring) or an optionally substituted heterocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered heterocyclic ring having one or more O, S, and/or N); and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavirus or picomavims is provided wherein the compound is of the formulae (XI), (Xn), (Xffl), or (XIV):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodmg, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, wherein: R1, R3, R5, and R' are all as defined above, except that R' in Formula (XI) is -OH, -NH2 or -SH only when X is C; X is as defined above; Each R2' and R4', independently, is H, -OH, -SH, -NH2, -CF3, CI, F, Br, I, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl or alkynyl, -CH2OH, alkoxy, CH2F, CH2N3, CH2CN, -(CH2)mC(O)OR4, -(CH2)mC(O)NHR4, -(CH2)mC(O)N(R4)2, -NH(alkyl), -N(alkyl)2, -NH(acyl), -N(acyl)2, or C3-7 cycloalkylamino; and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavims or picomavirus is provided wherein the compound is of the formulae (XV) or (XVI):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrag, or salt of a prodrag, thereof, wherein: Rl, R2', R3, R5, R6, and R' are all as defined above, except that R6 is -OH, -NH2 or - SH only when X is C; X and X* are as defined above; each R7 is independently H, -OR1, -OH, -NO2, -CF3, -NH2, CI, F, Br, I, N3, CN, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl or alkynyl, Br-vinyl, -CH2OH, -O(R), alkoxy, -(CH2)mC(O)O(R), -OC(O)O-aryl, -OC(O)O-aralkyl, -SR, -(CH2)mNHR, -(CH2)mN(R)2, or C3-7 cycloalkylamino; each R is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, aryl or aralkyl; m is 0, 1 or 2; and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another embodiment, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togavirus or picomavirus is provided wherein the compound is of the formula (XVII),
(xvπi), (xix), (xx), (xxi), (xxii), (xxm), (xxrv), (xxv), (xxvi), (xxvπ), or
(XXVIII):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrag, or salt of a prodrag, thereof, wherein: R
1, R
3, R
5, R
6, R
7, and R' are all as defined above, except that R
6 is -OH, -NH
2 or - SH only when X is C;
X is defined as above; m is 0, 1 or 2; and Base is as defined in the specification; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the use of a compound for the treatment of a coronavirus, togaviras or picomavirus is provided wherein the compound is of the formulas Al-Nl :
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the compound of the present invention is in the form of its 2', 3', and/or 5 '-prodmg. In one embodiment, the compound is a prodrug that includes biologically cleavable moieties at the 2', 3' and or
5' positions. In one embodiment, the compound is an acyl prodrug with biologically cleavable acyl moieties at the 2', 3' and or 5' positions. In a particular embodiment, the compound is an amino acid ester prodrug with biologically cleavable amino acid moieties at the 2', 3' and/or 5' positions. Preferred moieties are amino acid esters including valyl, and alkyl esters including acetyl. Therefore, this invention specifically includes the 2'-L-amino acid ester, 3'-L-amino acid ester, 2',5'-L-diamino acid ester, and 3',5'-L-diamino acid ester of the nucleosides of the present invention; and the 2'- ester, 3 '-ester, 2',5'-diester and 3',5'-diester of the nucleosides wherein (i) the 2' and/or 3' ester is an amino acid ester and the 5 '-ester is an alkyl or aryl ester; (ii) both esters are amino acid esters; (iii) both esters are independently alkyl or aryl esters; and (iv) the 2' and/or 3' ester is independently an alkyl or aryl ester and the 5 '-ester is an amino acid ester. The active compounds of the present invention can be administered alone or in combination, alternation or sequential steps with another anti-coronavims, such as anti- SARS-CoV, anti-togavirus, such as anti-mbiviras (the causative agent for rabella) and anti-alphavirus (the causative agent for encephalitis), and/or anti-picornavirus, such as anti-enterovims (particularly Coxsackievirases, poliovirases, hepatitis A, echovirases and the four human enteroviras species), anti-rhinovirus, anti-cardioviras and anti- aphthovirus, or more generally any (+)-RNA active agent. In combination therapy, effective dosages of two or more agents are administered together, whereas in alternation
or sequential-step therapy, an effective dosage of each agent is administered serially or sequentially. The' dosages given will depend on absorption, inactivation and excretion rates of the drag ;as well as other factors known to those of skill in the art. It is to be noted that dosage values will also vary with the severity of the condition to be alleviated. It is to be further understood that for any particular subject, specific dosage regimens and schedules should be adjusted over time according to the individual need and the professional judgment of the person administering or supervising the administration of the compositions. In preferred embodiments, an anti-SARS-CoV, anti-coronaviras, anti- togavirus, and/or anti-picornavirus compound that exhibits an EC50 of 10-15 μM or less, or preferably less than 1-5 μM, is desirable. The active compound can be administered as any salt or prodrag that upon administration to the recipient is capable of providing directly or indirectly the parent compound, or that exhibits activity itself. Nonlimiting examples are the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, which are alternatively referred to as "physiologically acceptable salts", and a compound that has been alkylated or acylated at the 3'- or 5'- position or on the purine or pyrimidine base, thereby forming a type of "pharmaceutically acceptable prodrag". Further, the modifications can affect the biological activity of the compound, in some cases increasing the activity over the parent compound. This can easily be assessed by preparing the salt or prodrag and testing its antiviral activity according to the methods described herein, or other methods known to those skilled in the art.
II. Definitions
The term "alkyl" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, includes a saturated straight, branched, or cyclic, primary, secondary, or tertiary hydrocarbon of typically to Cio, and specifically includes methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl, cyclopentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, isohexyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, 3-methylpentyl, 2,2-dimethybutyl, and 2,3- dimethylbutyl. The term includes both substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups. Moieties with which the alkyl group can be substitoted with one or more substitoents include but are not limited to halo, including CI, F, Br and I so as to form, for eg., CF
3, 2-
Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, or CF
2CF
3; hydroxyl, for eg. CH
2OH; amino, for eg., CH
2NH
2, CH
2NHCH
3, or CH
2N(CH
3)
2; carboxylate; carboxamido; alkylamino; arylamino; alkoxy; aryloxy; nitro; azido, for eg., CH
2N
3; cyano, for eg., CH
2CN; thio; sulfonic acid; sulfate; phosphonic acid; phosphate; and phosphonate, either unprotected or protected as necessary, known to those skilled in the art, for eg., as taught in Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition (1991), incorporated herein by reference. The term "lower alkyl" as used herein, and unless otherwise specified, includes a Ci to C
6 saturated straight, branched, or if appropriate, cyclic as in cyclopropyl, for eg., alkyl group, including both substituted and unsubstitoted forms. Unless otherwise specifically stated in this application, when alkyl is a suitable moiety, lower alkyl is preferred. Similarly, when alkyl or lower alkyl is a suitable moiety, unsubstituted alkyl or lower alkyl is preferred. The terms "alkylamino" and "arylamino" refer to an amino group that has one or two alkyl or aryl substituents, respectively. The term "protected" as used herein and, unless otherwise defined, includes a group that is added to an oxygen, nitrogen or phosphoms atom to prevent its further reaction or for other purposes. Numerous oxygen and nitrogen protecting groups are known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis. The term "aryl" as used herein and, unless otherwise specified, includes phenyl, biphenyl or naphthyl, and preferably phenyl. The term includes both substituted and unsubstituted moieties. The aryl group can be substitoted with one or more moieties including but not limited to alkyl, hydroxyl, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, thio, alkylthio, carboxamido, carboxylate, sulfonic acid, sulfate, phosphonic acid, phosphate, or phosphonate, either unprotected or protected as necessary, as known to those skilled in the art, for eg., as taught in Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition (1991), incorporated herein by reference. The terms "alkaryl" and "akylaryl" refer to an alkyl group with an aryl sustitoent. The terms "aralkyl" and "arylalkyl" refer to an aryl group with an alkyl substituent. The term "halo" as used herein includes bromo, chloro, iodo and fluoro.
The term base refers to any purine or pyrimidine base including, but not limited to, adenine, N
6-alkylpurines,
(wherein acyl is C(O)(alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, or arylalkyl), N
6-benzylpurine, N
6-halopurine, N
6-vinylpurine, N
6-acetylenic purine, N
6- acyl purine, N
6-hydroxyalkyl purine, N
6-thioalkyl purine, N
2-alkylpurines, N
2-alkyl-6- thiopurines, thymine, cytosine, 5-fluorocytosine, 5-methylcytosine, 6-azapyrimidine, including 6-azacytosine, 2- and/or 4-mercaptopyrmidine, uracil, 5-halouracil, including 5-fluorouracil, C
5-alkylpyrimidines, C
5-benzylpyrimidines, C
5-halopyrimidines, C
5-vinylpyrimidine, C
5-acetylenic pyrimidine, C
5-acyl pyrimidine, C
5-hydroxyalkyl purine, C
5-amidopyrimidine, C -cyanopyrimidine, C
5-nitropyrimidine, C
5-amino- pyrimidine, N -alkylpurines, N -alkyl-6-thiopurines, 5-azacytidinyl, 5-azauracilyl, triazolopyridinyl, imidazolopyridinyl, pyrrolopyrimidinyl, pyrazolopyrimidinyl,
(iv) (v) (vi)
wherein: each G and L is independently CH or N; each D is independently N, CH, C-CN, C-NO
2, C-Q
-3 alkyl, C-NHCONH
2, C- CONQ
uQ
n, C-CSNQV, CCOOQ
11, C-C(=NH)NH
2, C-hydroxy, C-Q.
3alkoxy,C-amino, C-Q^ alkylamino, C-di(C
M alkyl)amino, C-halogen, C- (l,3-oxazol-2-yl), C-(l,3-thiazol-2-yl), or C-(imidazol-2-yl); wherein alkyl is
unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups independently selected from halogen, amino, hydroxy, carboxy, and Q
-3 alkoxy; each E is independently N or CQ
5; each W is independently O, S, or NR; each R is independently H, OH, alkyl; each Q
6 is independently H, OH, SH, NH
2, C alkylamino, di(Cι
-4 alkyl)amino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, halogen, C
M alkyl, C alkoxy, or CF
3; each Q
5 is independently H, Ci^ alkyl, C
2-6 alkenyl, C
2-6 alkynyl, C
1-4 alkylamino, CF
3, halogen, N, CN, NO
2, NHCONH
2, CONQ
uQ
n, CSNQ
UQ
U, COOQ
11, C(=NH)NH
2, hydroxy, Cι
-3alkoxy,amino, C
M alkylamino, di(C
1-4 alkyl)amino, halogen, l,3-oxazol-2-yl, l,3-thiazol-2-yl, or imidazol-2-yl; wherein alkyl is unsubstitoted or substituted with one to three groups independently selected from halogen, amino, hydroxy, carboxy, and
-3 alkoxy; each Q
7 and Q
14 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, CF
3, OH, SH, OR, SR C
1- alkyl, amino, C
M alkylamino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, and di(CM alkylamino; each Q
11 is independently H or C i .
6 alkyl; each Q
8 is independently H, halogen, CN, carboxy, C
1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl, N
3, amino, C
1-4 alkylamino, di(C
]-4 alkyl)amino, hydroxy, Cι
-6 alkoxy, Cι
-6 alkylthio, C
1-6 alkylsulfonyl, (C
1- alkyl)0-2 aminomethyl, N, CN, NO
2, .
3 alkyl, NHCONH
2, CONQ
nQ
n, CSNC Q
11, COOQ
11, C(=NH)NH
2, 1,3- oxazol-2-yl, l,3-thiazol-2-yl, or imidazol-2-yl, wherein alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one to three groups independently selected from halogen, amino, hydroxy, carboxy, and Q-3 alkoxy;
(D) CE)
wherein: each Ti and T
2 is independently selected from N, CH, or
each Q
16, U, and Y is independently selected from is H, OH, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, chloro, bromo, fluoro, iodo, OR
4, NR
4R
5 or SR
5, Br-vinyl, -O-alkyl, -O- alkenyl, -O-alkynyl, -O-aryl, -O-aralkyl, -O-acyl, -O-cycloalkyl, NH
2, NH- alkyl, N-dialkyl, NH-acyl, N-aryl, N-aralkyl, NH-cycloalkyl, SH, S-alkyl, S- acyl, S-aryl, S-cycloalkyl, S-aralkyl, CN, N
3, COOH, CONH
2, CO
2-alkyl, CONH-alkyl, CON-dialkyl, OH, CF
3, CH
2OH, (CH
2)
mOH, (CH
2)
raNH
2, (CH
2)
mCOOH, (CH
2)
mCN, (CH
2)
mNO
2, (CH
2)
mCONH
2, C
M alkylamino, di(C]
-4 alkyl)amino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, C
M alkoxy, C
1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, Cι
-6 alkylthio, Cι
-6 alkylsulfonyl, (CM alkyl)
0-2 aminomethyl, or- NHC(=NH)NH
2; each R
4 and R
5 is independently selected from hydrogen, acyl (including lower acyl), or alkyl (including but not limited to methyl, ethyl, propyl and cyclopropyl); each m is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10;
each Z is independently S, SO, SO
2, C=O, or NQ
20; each Q is independently H or alkyl; and each Vi and V
2 is independently selected from CH or N;
or
(F) (G) (H) (I) wherein: each T
3 and T
4 is independently selected from N or CQ ,22. ; each Q
22 is independently selected from H, OH, substituted or unsubstitoted alkyl, substitoted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substitoted or unsubstituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, chloro, bromo, fluoro, iodo, OR
4, NR
4R
5 or SR
5, Br-vinyl, -O-alkyl, -O-alkenyl, -O-alkynyl, -O-aryl, -O-aralkyl, -O-acyl, -O-cycloalkyl, NH
2, NH-alkyl, N-dialkyl, NH- acyl, N-aryl, N-aralkyl, NH-cycloalkyl, SH, S-alkyl, S-acyl, S-aryl, S- cycloalkyl, S-aralkyl, CN, N
3, COOH, CONH
2, CO
2-alkyl, CONH-alkyl, CON-dialkyl, OH, CF
3, CH
2OH, (CH
2)
mOH, (CH
2)
mNH
2, (CH
2)
mCOOH, (CH
2)
mCN, (CH
2)
mNO
2, (CH
2)
raCONH
2, CM alkylamino, di(C alkyl)amino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, Cμ
4 alkoxy, C
M alkoxycarbonyl, Cι
-6 alkylthio, Cι
-6 alkylsulfonyl, (C alkyl)
0-2 aminomethyl, or -NHC(=NH)NH
2; T
5 is NH;
each R
4 and R
5 is independently selected from hydrogen, acyl (including lower acyl), or alkyl (including but not limited to methyl, ethyl, propyl and cyclopropyl); each m is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10; each T
6, T
7, T
8, T
9, Tι
0, Tπ, and Tι
2 is independently selected from N or CH; each U
2 is independently H, straight chained, branched or cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, chloro, bromo, fluoro, iodo, OR
4, NR
4R
5 or SR
5; each Y
2 is independently O, S, NH, NR or CQ
24Q
26 where R is H, OH, or alkyl; each Q
24 and Q
2 is independently selected from H, alkyl, straight chained, branched or cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, chloro, bromo, fluoro, iodo, OR
4, NR
4R
5 or SR
5.
Further examples of purine bases include, but are not limited to, guanine, adenine, hypoxanthine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6-chloropurine. Functional oxygen and nitrogen groups on the base can be protected as necessary or desired. Suitable protecting groups are well known to those skilled in the art, and include trimethylsilyl, dimethylhexylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl, and t-butyldiphenylsilyl, trityl, alkyl groups, and acyl groups such as acetyl and propionyl, methanesulfonyl, and p-toluenesulfonyl. The term "acyl" includes a carboxylic acid ester in which the non-carbonyl moiety of the ester group is selected from straight, branched, or cyclic alkyl or lower alkyl; alkoxyalkyl including methoxymethyl; aralkyl including benzyl; aryloxyalkyl such as phenoxymethyl; aryl including phenyl optionally substituted with halogen, Cι-C6 alkyl or Cι-C6 alkoxy; sulfonate esters such as alkyl or aralkyl sulphonyl including methanesulfonyl; the mono-, di- or triphosphate ester; trityl or monomethoxytrityl; substituted benzyl; trialkylsilyl as, for eg., dimethyl-t-butylsilyl or diphenylmethylsilyl.
Aryl groups in the esters optimally comprise a phenyl group. The term "acyl" or O-linked ester refers to a group of the formula C(O)R', wherein R' is an straight, branched, or cyclic alkyl (including lower alkyl), carboxylate residue of an amino acid, aryl including phenyl, heteroaryl, alkaryl, aralkyl including
benzy 1, alkoxyalkyl including methoxymethyl, aryloxyalkyl such as phenoxymethyl; or substituted alkyl (including lower alkyl), aryl including phenyl optionally substitoted with chloro, bromo, fluoro, iodo, to C4 alkyl or Q to C4 alkoxy, sulfonate esters such as alkyl or aralkyl sulphonyl including methanesulfonyl, the mono, di or triphosphate ester, trityl or monomethoxy-trityl, substituted benzyl, alkaryl, aralkyl including benzyl, alkoxyalkyl including methoxymethyl, aryloxyalkyl such as phenoxymethyl. Aryl groups in the esters optimally comprise a phenyl group. In nonlimiting embodiments, acyl groups include acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, methylacetyl, cyclopropylacetyl, cyclopropyl- carboxy, propionyl, butyryl, isobutyryl, hexanoyl, heptanoyloctanoyl, neo-heptanoyl, phenylacetyl, 2-acetoxy-2-phenylacetyl, diphenylacetyl, α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethyl- phenylacetyl, bromoacetyl, 2-nitro-benzeneacetyl, 4-chloro-benzeneacetyl, 2-chloro-2,2- diphenylacetyl, 2-chloro-2-phenylacetyl, trimethylacetyl, chlorodifluoroacetyl, perfluoroacetyl, fluoroacetyl, bromodifluoroacetyl, methoxyacetyl, 2-thiopheneacetyl, chlorosulfonylacetyl, 3-methoxyphenylacetyl, phenoxyacetyl, tert-butylacetyl, trichloroacetyl, monochloro-acetyl, dichloroacetyl, 7H-dodecafluoro-heptanoyl, perfluoro-heptanoyl, 7H-dodeca-fluoroheptanoyl, 7-chlorododecafluoro-heptanoyl, 7- chloro-dodecafluoro-heptanoyl, 7H-dodecafluoroheptanoyl, 7H-dodeca-fluoroheptanoyl, nona-fluoro-3,6-dioxa-heptanoyl, nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoyl, perfluoroheptanoyl, methoxybenzoyl, methyl 3-amino-5-phenylthiophene-2-carboxyl, 3,6-dichloro-2- methoxy-benzoyl, 4-(l,l,2,2-tetrafluoro-ethoxy)-benzoyl, 2-bromo-propionyl, omega- aminocapryl, decanoyl, n-pentadecanoyl, stearyl, 3-cyclopentyl-propionyl, 1-benzene- carboxyl, O-acetylmandelyl, pivaloyl acetyl, 1-adamantane-carboxyl, cyclohexane- carboxyl, 2,6-pyridinedicarboxyl, cyclopropane-carboxyl, cyclobutane-carboxyl, perfluorocyclohexyl carboxyl, 4-methylbenzoyl, chloromethyl isoxazolyl carbonyl, perfluorocyclohexyl carboxyl, crotonyl, l-methyl-lH-indazole-3-carbonyl, 2-propenyl, isovaleryl, 1-pyrrolidinecarbonyl, 4-phenylbenzoyl. The term "lower acyl" includes an acyl group in which the non-carbonyl moiety is lower alkyl. The term amino acid includes naturally occurring and synthetic α, β, γ, or δ amino acids, and includes but is not limited to, amino acids found in proteins, i.e. glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, proline, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, glutamine, aspartate, glutamate,
lysine, arginine arid histidine. In a preferred embodiment, the amino acid is in the L- configuration, but can also be used in the D-configuration. Alternatively, the amino acid can be a derivative of alanyl, valinyl, leucinyl, isoleuccinyl, prolinyl, phenylalaninyl, tryptophanyl, methioninyl, glycinyl, serinyl, threoninyl, cysteinyl, tyrosinyl, asparaginyl, glutaminyl, aspartoyl, glutaroyl, lysinyl, argininyl, histidinyl, β-alanyl, β-valinyl, β- leucinyl, β-isoleuccinyl, β-prolinyl, β-phenylalaninyl, β-tryptophanyl, β-methioninyl, β- glycinyl, β-serinyl, β-threoninyl, β-cysteinyl, β-tyrosinyl, β-asparaginyl, β-glutaminyl, β- aspartoyl, β-glutaroyl, β-lysinyl, β-argininyl or β-histidinyl. As used herein, the terms "substantially free of and "substantially in the absence of refer to a nucleoside composition that includes at least 85 or 90% by weight, preferably at least 95% or 98% by weight, and even more preferably at least 99% or 100% by weight, of the designated enantiomer of that nucleoside. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds listed in the methods and compounds of this invention are substantially free of enantiomers other than for the one designated. Similarly, the term "isolated" refers to a nucleoside composition that includes at least 85% or 90% by weight, preferably 95% or98% y weight, and even more preferably 99% or 100% by weight, of the nucleoside. The term "host", as used herein, refers to a unicellular or multicellular organism in which the virus can replicate, including cell lines and animals, and preferably a human. Alternatively, the host can be carrying a part of the coronavims, togavims and/or picomavims genome, whose replication or function can be altered by the compounds of the present invention. The term host specifically refers to infected cells, cells transfected with all or part of the coronavims, togaviras and/or picomavims genome and animals, in particular, primates (including chimpanzees) and humans. In most animal applications of the present invention, the host is a human patient.
Veterinary applications, in certain indications, however, are clearly anticipated by the present invention such as in chimpanzees. The term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug" is used throughout the specification to describe any pharmaceutically acceptable form (ester, phosphate ester, salt of an ester or a related group) of a nucleoside compound, which, upon administration to a patient, provides the nucleoside compound. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts
include those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic bases and acids. Suitable salts include those derived from alkali metals such as potassium and sodium, alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium, among numerous other acids well known in the pharmaceutical art. Pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs refer to a compound that is metabolized, for example, hydrolyzed or oxidized, in the host to form the compound of the present invention. Typical examples of prodrugs include compounds that have biologically labile protecting groups on a functional moiety of the active compound. Prodrugs include compounds that can be oxidized, reduced, aminated, deaminated, hydroxylated, dehydroxylated, hydrolyzed, dehydrolyzed, alkylated, dealkylated, acylated, deacylated, phosphorylated, dephosphorylated to produce the active compound. The compounds of this invention possess antiviral activity against coronavirus, togaviras and/or picomavims or are metabolized to a compound that exhibits such activity.
III. Nucleotide Prodrug Formulations Any of the nucleosides described herein can be administered as a nucleotide prodmg to increase the activity, bioavailability, stability or otherwise alter the properties of the nucleoside. A number of nucleotide prodmg ligands are known. In general, alkylation, acylation or other lipophilic modification of the mono-, di- or triphosphate of the nucleoside reduces polarity and allows passage into cells. Examples of substituent groups that can replace one or more hydrogens on the phosphate moiety are alkyl, aryl, steroids, carbohydrates, including sugars, 1,2-diacylglycerol and alcohols. Many are described in R. Jones and N. Bischoferger, Antiviral Research, 1995, 27:1-17. Any of these can be used in combination with the disclosed nucleosides to achieve a desired effect. In cases where compounds are sufficiently basic or acidic to form stable nontoxic acid or base salts, administration of the compound as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt may be appropriate. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts are organic acid addition salts formed with acids, which form a physiological acceptable anion, for example, tosylate, methanesulfonate, acetate, citrate, malonate, tartarate, succinate,
benzoate, ascorate; α-ketoglutarate, and α-glycerophosphate. Suitable inorganic salts may also be formed, including, sulfate, nitrate, bicarbonate, and carbonate salts. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be obtained using standard procedures well known in the art, for example by reacting a sufficiently basic compound such as an amine with a suitable acid affording a physiologically acceptable anion. Alkali metal
(for example, sodium, potassium or lithium) or alkaline earth metal (for example calcium) salts of carboxylic acids can also be made. The active nucleoside can also be provided as a 5'-phosphoether lipid or a 5'- ether lipid, as disclosed in the following references, which are incorporated by reference herein: Kucera, L.S., N. Iyer, E. Leake, A. Raen, Modest E.K., D.L.W., and C.
Piantadosi. 1990. "Novel membrane-interactive ether lipid analogs that inhibit infectious HIV-1 production and induce defective virus formation." AIDS Res. Hum. Retro Viruses. 6:491-501; Piantadosi, C, J. Marasco C.J., S.L. Morris-Natschke, K.L. Meyer, F. Gumus, J.R. Surles, K.S. Ishaq, L.S. Kucera, N. Iyer, CA. Wallen, S. Piantadosi, and EJ. Modest. 1991. "Synthesis and evaluation of novel ether lipid nucleoside conjugates for anti-HIV activity." J. Med. Chem. 34:1408.1414; Hosteller, K.Y., D.D. Richman, D.A. Carson, L.M. Stuhmiller, G.M. T. van Wijk, and H. van den Bosch., 1992. "Greatly enhanced inhiition of human immunodeficiency vims type 1 replication in CEM and HT4-6C cells by 3 '-deoxy thymidine diphosphate dimyristoylglycerol, a lipid prodrag of 3-deoxythymidine." Antimicro. Agents
Chemother. 36:2025.2029; Hosetler, K.Y., L.M. Stuhmiller, H.. Lenting, H. van den Bosch, and D.D. Richman, 1990. "Synthesis and antiretroviral activity of phospholipid analogs of azidothymidine and other antiviral nucleosides." J. Biol. Chem. 265:61127. Nonlimiting examples of U.S. patents that disclose suitable lipophilic substituents that can be covalently incorporated into the nucleoside, preferably at the 5' -OH position of the nucleoside or lipophilic preparations, include U.S. Patent Nos. 5,149,794 (Sep. 22,
1992, Yatvin et al); 5,194,654 (Mar. 16, 1993, Hostetler et al, 5,223,263 (June 29,
1993, Hostetler et al); 5,256,641 (Oct. 26, 1993, Yatvin et al); 5,411,947 (May 2, 1995, Hostetler et al); 5,463,092 (Oct. 31, 1995, Hostetler et al); 5,543,389 (Aug. 6, 1996, Yatvin et al); 5,543,390 (Aug. 6, 1996, Yatvin et al); 5,543,391 (Aug. 6, 1996, Yatvin et al); and 5,554,728 (Sep. 10, 1996; Basava et al), all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Foreign patent applications that disclose lipophilic substituents that can be
attached to the nucleosides of the present invention, or lipophilic preparations, include WO 89/02733, W090/00555, W091/16920, W091/18914, W093/00910, W094/26273, W0 96/15132, EP 0 350287, EP 93917054.4, and WO 91/19721.
IV. Combination and Alternation Therapy Drug-resistant variants of coronavirus, togaviras and/or picomavims may emerge after prolonged treatment with an antiviral agent. Drag resistance most typically occurs by mutation of a gene that encodes for an enzyme used in viral replication. The efficacy of a drug against the viral infection can be prolonged, augmented, or restored by administering the compound in combination or alternation with a second, and perhaps third, antiviral compound that induces a different mutation from that caused by the principle drug. Alternatively, the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution or other parameter of the drag can be altered by such combination or alternation therapy. In general, combination therapy is typically preferred over alternation therapy because it induces multiple simultaneous stresses on the vims. Any of the viral treatments described in the Background of the Invention can be used in combination or alternation with the compounds described in this specification. Nonlimiting examples include:
(1) Interferon A number of patents disclose anti-viral treatments, using interferon-based therapies. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,928,636 to Alber et al. discloses the combination therapy of interleukin-12 and interferon alpha for the treatment of infectious diseases. U.S. Patent No. 5,849,696 to Chretien et al. discloses the use of thymosins, alone or in combination with interferon. U.S. Patent No. 5,830,455 to Valtoena et al. discloses a combination therapy employing interferon and a free radical scavenger. U.S. Patent No. 5,738,845 to Imakawa discloses the use of human interferon tau proteins.
Other interferon-based treatments are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No.
5,676,942 to Testa et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,372,808 to Blatt et al., and U.S. Patent No.
5,849,696. A number of patents also disclose pegylated forms of interferon, such as U.S.
Patent Nos. 5,747,646, 5,792,834 and 5,834,594 to Hoffmann-La Roche Inc; PCT
Publication No. WO 99/32139 and WO 99/32140 to Enzon; WO 95/13090 and US
Patent Nos. 5,738,846 and 5,711,944 to Schering; and U.S. Patent No. 5,908,621 to Glue i et al.. Interferon alpha-2a and interferon alpha-2b are currently approved as monotherapy. For example, ROFERON®-A (Roche) is the recombinant form of interferon alpha-2a. Pegasys® (Roche) is the pegylated (i.e. polyethylene glycol modified) form of interferon alpha-2a. INTRON®A (Schering Corporation) is the recombinant form of Interferon alpha-2b, and PEG-INTRON® (Schering Corporation) is the pegylated form of interferon alpha-2b. Other forms of interferon alpha, as well as interferon beta, gamma, tau and omega are currently in clinical development. For example, INFERGEN (interferon alphacon-1) by InterMune, OMNIFERON (natural interferon) by Viragen, ALBUFERON by Human Genome Sciences, REBIF (interferon beta- la) by Ares-Serono, Omega Interferon by BioMedicine, Oral Interferon Alpha by Amarillo Biosciences, and interferon gamma, interferon tau, and interferon gamma- lb by InterMune are in development.
Combination of Interferon and Ribavirin Combination therapy with an alpha interferon and ribavirin is a common antiviral therapy. The combination of interferon and ribavirin has been reported to be effective in the treatment of interferon naϊve patients (for example, Battaglia, A.M. et al.,
Ann. Pharmacother. 34:487-494, 2000), as well as for treatment of patients when histological disease is present (Berenguer, M. et al. Antivir. Ther. 3(Suppl. 3): 125-136, 1998). Studies have show that more patients respond to pegylated interferon- alpha/ribavirin combination therapy than to combination therapy with unpegylated interferon alpha. However, as with monotherapy, significant side effects develop during combination therapy, including hemolysis, flu-like symptoms, anemia, and fatigue, (for example, Gary L. Davis. Gastroenterology 118:S104-S114, 2000). Combination therapy with PEG-INTRON® (peginterferon alpha-2b) and
REBETOL® (Ribavirin, USP) capsules is available from Schering Corporation. REBETOL® (Schering Corporation) has also been approved in combination with
INTRON® A (Interferon alpha-2b, recombinant, Schering Corporation). Roche's
Pegasys® (pegylated interferon alpha-2a) and COPEGUS® (ribavirin) are also approved for the treatment of HCV. I PCT Publication Nos. WO 99/59621, WO 00/37110, WO 01/81359, WO 02/32414 and WO 03/024461 by Schering Corporation disclose the use of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy. PCT Publication Nos. WO 99/15194, WO 99/64016, and WO 00/24355 by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc also disclose the use of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin combination.
(3) Substrate-based NS3 protease inhibitors (for example, Attwood et al., Antiviral peptide derivatives, PCT WO 98/22496, 1998; Attwood et al., Antiviral
Chemistry and Chemotherapy 1999, 10, 259-273; Attwood et al., Preparation and use of amino acid derivatives as anti-viral agents, German Patent Pub. DE 19914474; Tung et al. Inhibitors of serine proteases, particularly hepatitis C vims NS3 protease, PCT WO 98/17679), including alphaketoamides and hydrazinoureas, and inhibitors that terminate in an electrophile such as a boronic acid or phosphonate (Llinas-Branet et al, Hepatitis C inhibitor peptide analogues, PCT WO 99/07734). (4) Non-substrate-based inhibitors, for example, 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-nitro- benzamide derivatives (for example, Sudo K. et al., Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1997, 238, 643-647; Sudo K. et al. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy, 1998, 9, 186), including RD3-4082 and RD3-4078, the former substituted on the amide with a 14 carbon chain and the latter processing a para- phenoxyphenyl group; (5) Thiazolidine derivatives which show relevant inhibition in a reverse- phase HPLC assay (for example Sudo K. et al., Antiviral Research, 1996, 32, 9-18), especially compound RD- 1-6250, possessing a fused cinnamoyl moiety substitoted with a long alkyl chain, RD4 6205 and RD4 6193; (6) Thiazolidines and benzanilides (for example Kakiuchi N. et al. J. EBS Letters 421, 217-220; and Takeshita N. et al. Analytical Biochemistry, 1997, 247, 242- 246);
(7) A phenanthrenequinone possessing activity against protease in a SDS- PAGE and autoradiography assay isolated from the fermentation culture broth of Streptomyces sp., for example, Sch 68631 (for example, Chu M. et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 1996, 37, 7229-7232), and Sch 351633, isolated from the fungus Penicillium griscofuluum, which demonstrates activity in a scintillation proximity assay (for example, Chu M. et al., Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 9, 1949-1952); (8) Selective NS3 inhibitors, for example, those based on the macromolecule elgin c, isolated from leech (for example, Qasim M.A. et al., Biochemistry, 1997, 36, 1598-1607); (9) Helicase inhibitors (for example Diana G.D. et al., Compounds, compositions and methods for treatment of hepatitis C, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,358; Diana G.D. et al., Piperidine derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions thereof and their use in the treatment of hepatitis C, PCT WO 97/36554); (10) Polymerase inhibitors for example nucleotide analogues, gliotoxin (for example, Ferrari R. et al. Journal of Virology, 1999, 73, 1649-1654), and the natural product cemlenin (for example, Lohmann V. et al., Virology, 1998, 249, 108-118); (11) Antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (S-ODN) complementary to sequence stretches in the 5' non-coding region (NCR) of the viras (for example, Alt M. et al., Hepatology, 1995, 22, 707-717), or nucleotides comprising the 3' end of the NCR and/or nucleotides located in the core coding region of the viral RNA
(for example, Alt M. et al., Archives of Virology, 1997, 142, 589-599; Galderisi U. et al., Journal of Cellular Physiology, 1999, 181, 251-257). (12) Inhibitors of IRES-dependent translation (for example, Ikeda N et al., Agent for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C, Japanese Patent Pub. JP- 08268890; Kai Y. et al. Prevention and treatment of viral diseases, Japanese Patent Pub.
JP-10101591). (13) Nuclease-resistant ribozymes (for example Maccjak, D. J. et al., Hepatology 1999, 30, abstract 995). (14) Nucleoside analogs have also been developed for the treatment of viral infections. Examples include the following.
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. discloses branched nucleosides, and their use in the treatment of HCV and flaviviruses and pestiviruses in US Patent Publication No. 2003/0050229 Al and US Patent Publication No. 2003/0060400 Al, which correspond to International Publication Nos. WO 01/90121 and WO 01/92282. A method for the treatment of hepatitis C infection (and flaviviruses and pestiviruses) in humans and other host animals is disclosed in the Idenix publications that includes administering an effective amount of a biologically active 1', 2 ', 3' or 4' -branched β-D or β-L nucleosides or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, administered either alone or in combination, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. See also U.S . Patent Publication Nos. 2004/0006002 and 2004/0006007 as well as WO 03/026589 and WO 03/026675. Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. also discloses in US Patent Publication No. 2004/0077587 pharmaceutically acceptable branched nucleoside prodrugs, and their use in the treatment of HCV and flavivimses and pestivirases in prodrugs. See also PCT Publication Nos. WO 04/002422, WO 04/002999, and WO 04/003000. Emory University and the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. (UGARF) discloses the use of 2'-fluoronucleosides in US Patent No. 6,348,587. See also International Patent Publication WO 99/43691. BioChem Pharma Inc. (now Shire Biochem, Inc.) discloses the use of various 1,3-dioxolane nucleosides in International Publication No. WO 01/32153
(PCT/CA00/01316; filed November 3, 2000). BioChem Pharma Inc. (now Shire Biochem, Inc.) also disclose s various other 2'- halo, 2' -hydroxy and 2' -alkoxy nucleosides in International Publication No. WO 01/60315 (PCT/CA01/00197; filed February 19, 2001). ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discloses various nucleoside analogs that are useful in modulating immune response in US Patent Nos. 6,495,677 and 6,573,248. See also WO 98/16184, WO 01/68663, and WO 02/03997. US Patent Publication Nos. 2003/083307 Al and US 2003/008841 Al, and the corresponding International Patent Publication Nos. WO 02/18404 (PCT/EP01/09633; published August 21, 2001); WO 02/100415 and WO 02/094289, filed by F. Hoffmann-
La Roche AG discloses various nucleoside analogs for the inhibition of viral RNA replication. Pharmasset Limited discloses various nucleosides and antimetabolites for the treatment of a variety of viruses, in WO 02/32920, WO 01/79246, WO 02/48165, WO 03/068162, WO 03/068164 and 2004/013298. Merck & Co., Inc. and Isis Pharmaceuticals disclose in US Patent Publication No. 2002/0147160 and the corresponding International Patent Publication Nos. WO 02/057425 (PCT/US02/01531; filed January 18, 2002) and WO 02/057287 (PCT/US02/03086; filed January 18, 2002) various nucleosides, and in particular several pyrrolopyrimidine nucleosides, for the treatment of vimses whose replication is dependent upon RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. See also WO 03/068244, WO 2004/003138, WO 2004/007512, and WO 2004/009020. US Patent Publication No. 2003/028013 Al as well as International Patent Publication Nos. WO 03/051899, WO 03/061576, WO 03/062255 WO 03/062256, WO 03/062257, and WO 03/061385, filed by Ribapharm, also are directed to the use of certain nucleoside analogs to treat viral infections.
(15) Miscellaneous compounds including, for example, 1-amino- alkylcyclohexanes (for example, U.S. Patent No. 6,034,134 to Gold et al.), alkyl lipids (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,757 to Chojkier et al.), vitamin E and other antioxidants (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,757 to Chojkier et al.), squalene, amantadine, bile acids (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,964 to Ozeki et al.), N- (phosphonoacetyl)-L-aspartic acid (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,905 to Diana et al.), benzenedicarboxamides (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,388 to Diana et al.), polyadenylic acid derivatives (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,546 to Wang et al.), 2',3'- dideoxyinosine (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,687 to Yarchoan et al.), and benzimidazoles for example, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,874 to Colacino et al.). (16) Other compounds currently in clinical development include, for example: Interleukin-10 by Schering-Plough, IP-501 by Intemeuron, Merimebodib VX-497 by Vertex, AMANTADINE (Symmetrel) by Endo Labs Solvay, HEPTAZYME by RPI,
IDN-6556 by Idun Pharma., XTL-002 by XTL., HCV/MF59 by Chiron, CINACIR by
NABI, LEVOVIRIN by ICN, VIRAMIDINE by ICN, ZADAXIN (thymosin alfa-1) by Sci Clone, CEPLENE (histamine dihydrochloride) by Maxim, VX 950 / LY 570310 by Vertex/Eli Lilly, /ISIS 14803 by Isis Pharmaceutical/Elan, IDN-6556 by Idun Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and JTK 003 by AKROS Pharma.
V. Pharmaceutical Compositions
Hosts, including humans, infected with a coronavims, togaviras and/or picomavirus or another organism replicating through a RNA-dependent RNA viral polymerase, can be treated by administering to the patient an effective amount of the active compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable prodrag or salt thereof in the presence of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The active materials can be administered by any appropriate route, for example, orally, parenterally, intravenously, intradermally, sucutaneously, or topically, in liquid or solid form. A preferred dose of the compound for a coronavims, togavims and/or picomavims will be in the range from about 1 to 50 mg/kg, preferably 1 to 20 mg/kg, of body weight per day, more generally 0.1 to about 100 mg per kilogram body weight of the recipient per day. The effective dosage range of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodmgs can be calculated based on the weight of the parent nucleoside to be delivered. If the salt or prodrug exhibits activity in itself, the effective dosage can be estimated as above using the weight of the salt or prodrug, or by other means known to those skilled in the art. The compound is conveniently administered in unit any suitable dosage form, including but not limited to one containing 7 to 3000 mg, preferably 70 to 1400 mg of active ingredient per unit dosage form. An oral dosage of 50-1000 mg is usually convenient. Ideally the active ingredient should be administered to achieve peak plasma concentrations of the active compound of from about 0.2 to 70 μM, preferably about 1.0 to 10 μM. This may be achieved, for example, by the intravenous injection of a 0.1 to 5% solution of the active ingredient, optionally in saline, or administered as a bolus of the active ingredient.
The concentration of active compound in the drag composition will depend on absorption, inactivation and excretion rates of the drug as well as other factors known to those of skill in the art. It is to be noted that dosage values will also vary with the severity of the condition to be alleviated. It is to be further understood that for any particular subject, specific dosage regimens should be adjusted over time according to the individual need and the professional judgment of the person administering or supervising the administration of the compositions, and that the concentration ranges set forth herein are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope or practice of the claimed composition. The active ingredient may be administered at once, or may be divided into a number of smaller doses to be administered at varying intervals of time. A preferred mode of administration of the active compound is oral. Oral compositions will generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. They may be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed into tablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules. Pharmaceutically compatible inding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can e included as part of the composition. The tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or com starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or Sterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it can contain, in addition to material of the above type, a liquid carrier such as a fatty oil. In addition, dosage unit forms can contain various other materials which modify the physical form of the dosage unit, for example, coatings of sugar, shellac, or other enteric agents. The compound can be administered as a component of an elixir, suspension, syrup, wafer, chewing gum or the like. A syrup may contain, in addition to the active compounds, sucrose as a sweetening agent and certain preservatives, dyes and colorings and flavors.
The compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug or salts thereof can also be mixed with other active materials that do not impair the desired action, or with materials that supplement the desired action, such as antibiotics, antifungals, anti- inflammatories, or other antivirals, including other nucleoside compounds. Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral, intradermal, subcutaneous, or topical application can include the following components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antiacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. The parental preparation can be enclosed in ampoules, disposale syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic. If administered intravenously, preferred carriers are physiological saline or phosphate buffered saline (PS). In a preferred embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers that will protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and microencapsulated delivery systems, biodegradale, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters and polylactic acid. Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The materials can also be obtained commercially from Alza Corporation. Liposomal suspensions (including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonal antiodies to viral antigens) are also preferred as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These may be prepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,522,811 (which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). For example, liposome formulations may be prepared by dissolving appropriate lipid(s) (such as stearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine, stearoyl phosphatidyl choline, arachadoyl phosphatidyl choline, and cholesterol) in an inorganic solvent that is then evaporated, leaving behind a thin film of dried lipid on the surface of the container. An aqueous solution of the active compound or its monophosphate, diphosphate, and/or triphosphate derivatives is then introduced into the container. The
container is then swirled by hand to free lipid material from the sides of the container and to disperse lipid aggregates, thereby forming the liposomal suspension.
VI. Processes for the Preparation of Active Compounds
The nucleosides of the present invention can be synthesized by any means known in the art. In particular, the synthesis of the present nucleosides can be achieved by either alkylating the appropriately modified sugar, followed by glycosylation or glycosylation followed by alkylation of the nucleoside, though preferably alkylating the appropriately modified sugar, followed by glycosylation. The following non-limiting embodiments illustrate some general methodology to obtain the nucleosides of the present invention.
A. General Synthesis ofl '-C-branched Nucleosides A l'-C branched ribonucleoside of the following structure, for example:
(I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, salt of an ester, prodrug, or salt of a prodmg, thereof, wherein: R
1 is H, phosphate or phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodrug); optionally substituted acyl (including lower acyl); optionally substituted alkyl (including lower alkyl); optionally substitoted sulfonate ester including alkyl or arylalkyl sulfonyl such as methanesulfonyl; optionally substitoted aryl; optionally substituted benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substitoents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; optionally substituted arylsulfonyl; a lipid,
including a phospholipid; an amino acid derivative; a carbohydrate; a peptide; cholesterol; or other pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides a compound wherein R is independently H or phosphate; each R
2 and R
4 independently is H, OH, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted alkenyl, an optionally substitoted alkynyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), NO
2, NH
2, N
3, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2C(A)
3, SCN, OCN, NCO, haloalkenyl, Br-vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)SR
13; -O(alkenyl), -(CH
2)
mNHR
13, -(CH
2)
mN(R
13)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
13)
2, -C(O)OR
13, -O(R
13), an optionally substitoted carbocycle, an optionally substitoted heterocycle, an optionally substituted heteroaryl (preferably a heteroaromatic ring having one or more O, S and/or N atoms), or C
3-7 cycloalkylamino; each R
3, R
5 and R
6 independently is H, OH, an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted alkenyl, an optionally substituted alkynyl, halo (F, CI, Br, or I), NO
2, NH
2, N
3, CH
2N
3, CH
2NH
2, CN, CH
2CN, CH
2N
3, CH
2NHCH
3, CH
2N(CH
3)
2, CH
2OH, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, CF
3, C(A)
3, 2-Br-ethyl, CH
2F, CH
2C1, CH
2CF
3, CF
2CF
3, CH
2(A), C(A)
2C(A)
3, SCN, OCN, NCO, haloalkenyl, Br-vinyl, haloalkynyl; -(CH
2)
mC(O)OR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)SR
13; -O(alkenyl), -(CH
2)
mNHR
13, -(CH
2)
mN(R
13)
2, -(CH
2)
mC(O)NHR
13, -(CH
2)
mC(O)N(R
13)
2, -C(O)OR
13, -O(R
13), an optionally substituted carbocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered carbocyclic ring such as, for example, a C
3- cycloalkylamino), an optionally substituted heterocycle (preferably a 3-7 membered heterocyclic ring having one or more O, S and/or N), an optionally substitoted heteroaryl (preferably a heteroaromatic ring having one or more O, S and/or N atoms), a C
3- cycloalkylamino, CF
3, mercapto, optionally substituted Q
-4 alkyl, Cι-i
2 alkoxy, Qz^alkenyl, C
2-4 alkynyl, C
2.
6 alkenyloxy, Cι
-4 alkylthio, Cι
-8 alkylcarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, Cι
-4 alkylamino, di(Q
-4 alkyl)amino, Br- vinyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), O-phosphate or O-phosphonate (including mono-, di-, or triphosphate or a stabilized phosphate prodrug); O-acyl (including lower acyl); O-alkyl (including lower alkyl); O-sulfonate ester including O-alkyl or O-
arylalkyl sulfonyl including O-methanesulfonyl; O-aryl; O-benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents as described in the definition of an aryl given herein; -OC(O)O-aryl; -OC(O)O-aralkyl; -S(acyl); -S(alkyl); -S(alkenyl); optionally substituted O-arylsulfonyl; an O- linked lipid, including an O-phospholipid; an O-linked amino acid; an O-linked carbohydrate; an O-linked peptide; O-linked cholesterol; or other O-linked pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group that when administered in vivo, provides a compound wherein the requisite R , R or R is independently OH or O-phosphate;
X is O, S, SO2, CH2, or CHOH; m is 0, 1 or 2;
R13 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acyl, aryl or aralkyl;
A is H, OH, CM alkyl, halo, azido, cyano, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, Br-vinyl, 2-Br- ethyl, -C(O)O(alkyl), -C(O)O(lower alkyl), -O(acyl), -O(lower acyl), -O(alkyl), -O(lower alkyl), -O(alkenyl), CF3, NO2, NH2, -NH(lower alkyl), -NH(acyl), -N(lower alkyl)2, or -N(acyl)2; and
Base is as defined in the specification, including but not limited to:
wherein: Each R
7, R
8, R
10, R
π and R
12 independently is H, NH
2, SH, CF
3, halo, NO
2, N
3, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally
substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl (preferably optionally substituted phenyl), -NH-cycloalkyl, -NH-cycloalkenyl, -NH-heterocycle, -NH-heteroaryl, -O-cycloalkyl, -O-cycloalkenyl, -O-heterocycle, -O- heteroaryl, CM alkylamino, di(C
1-4 alkyl)amino, C
3-6 cycloalkylamino, C
M alkyl-C(=O)OH, Q
-4 alkyl-C(=O)O-aryl (preferably C
1-4 alkyl- C(=O)O-phenyl), C
M alkyl-C(=O)O-heterocycle, C
M alkyl-C(=O)O- heteroaryl, or C
1- alkoxy; R
9 is O or S; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
Modification from the Lactone The key starting material for this process is an appropriately substituted lactone. The lactone may be purchased or can be prepared by any known means including standard epimerization, substitution and cyclization techniques. The lactone optionally can be protected with a suitable protecting group, preferably with an acyl or silyl group, by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. The protected lactone can then be coupled with a suitable coupling agent, such as an organometallic carbon nucleophile like a Grignard reagent, an organolithium, lithium dialkylcopper or R6-SiMe3 in TAF with the appropriate non-protic solvent at a suitable temperature, to give the l'-alkylated sugar. The optionally activated sugar can then be coupled to the base by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Townsend, Chemistry of Nuceleotides,
Plenum Press, 1994. For example, an acylated sugar can be coupled to a silylated base with a Lewis acid such as tin tetrachloride, titanium tetrachloride, or trimethylsilyltriflate in the appropriate solvent at a suitable temperature. Subsequently, the nucleoside can be deprotected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991.
In a particular embodiment, the l'-C-branched ribonucleoside is desired. The synthesis of a ribonucleoside is shown in Scheme 1. Alternatively, dexoyribonucleoside is desired. To obtain these nucleosides, the formed ribonucleoside an optionally be protected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991, and then the 2' -OH can be reduced with a suitable reducing agent. Optionally, the 2'- OH can be activated to facilitate reduction as, for example, via the Barton reduction.
Alternative Method for the Preparation of 1 '-C-branched Nucleosides The key starting material for this process is an appropriately substitoted hexose. The hexose can be purchased or can be prepared by any known means including standard epimerization (as, for example, via alkaline treatment), substitution and coupling techniques. The hexose can be protected selectively to give the appropriate hexa-
furanose, as taught by Townsend, Chemistry of Nucleosides and Nucleotides, Plenum Press, 1994. The l'-OH optionally can be activated to a suitable leaving group such as an acyl group or a halogen via acylation or halogenation, respectively. The optionally activated sugar can then be coupled to the base by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Townsend, Chemistry of Nucleosides and Nucleotides, Plenum Press, 1994. For example, an acylated sugar can be coupled to a silylated base with a Lewis acid, such as tin tetrachloride, titanium tetrachloride, or trimethylsilyltriflate in an appropriate solvent at a suitable temperature. Alternatively, a halo-sugar can be coupled to a silylated base in the presence of trimethylsilyltriflate. The l'-CH2-OH, if protected, selectively can be deprotected by methods well known in the art. The resultant primary hydroxyl can be reduced to give the methyl, using a suitable reducing agent. Alternatively, the hydroxyl can be activated prior to reduction to facilitate the reaction, i.e., via the Barton reduction. In an alternate embodiment, the primary hydroxyl can be oxidized to the aldehyde, then coupled with a carbon nucleophile such as a Grignard reagent, an organolithium, lithium dialkylcopper or R6-SiMe3 in TAF with an appropriate non-protic solvent at a suitable temperature. In a particular embodiment, the l'-C-branched ribonucleoside is desired. The synthesis of a ribonucleoside is shown in Scheme 2. Alternatively, deoxyribonucleoside is desired. To obtain these nucleosides, the formed ribonucleoside optionally can be protected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991, and then the 2'-OH can be reduced with a suitable reducing agent. Optionally, the 2'- OH can be activated to facilitate reduction as, for example, via the Barton reduction.
Scheme 2 Alkaline D-fructose
■ Treatment
In addition, the L-enantiomers corresponding to the compounds of the invention can be prepared following the same general methods (1 or 2), beginning with the corresponding L-sugar or nucleoside L-enantiomer as the starting material.
General Synthesis of 2' -C-branched Nucleosides A 2' -C-branched ribonucleoside of the following structure as an example:
wherein R1, R3, R5, and R' are all as defined above;
X is as defined above; Base is as defined in the specification; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrag thereof; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
1. Glycosylation of the nucleoase with an appropriately modified sugar The key starting material for this process is an appropriately substitoted sugar with a 2' -OH and 2'-H, with an appropriate leaving group (LG), such as an acyl or halogen group, for example. The sugar can be purchased or can be prepared by any known means including standard epimerization, substitution, oxidation and/or reduction techniques. The substituted sugar can then be oxidized with an appropriate oxidizing agent in a compatible solvent at a suitable temperature to yield the 2' -modified sugar. Possible oxidizing agents are Jones' reagent (a mixture of chromic and sulfuric acids), Collins' reagent (dipyridine Cr(VI)oxide), Corey's reagent (pyridinium chlorochromate), pyridinium dichromate, acid dichromate, potassium permanganate, MnO2, ruthenium tetroxide, phase transfer catalysts such as chromic acid or permanganate supported on a polymer, Cl2-pyridine, H2O2-ammonium molydate, NarO2-CAN, NaOCl in HOAc, copper chromate, copper oxide, Raney nickel, palladium acetate, Meerwin-Pondorf- Verley reagent (aluminum t-utoxide with another ketone) and N-bromosuccinimide. Then coupling of an organometallic carbon nucleophile such as a Grignard reagent, an organolithium, lithium dialkylcopper or R -SiMe3 in TAF with the ketone and an appropriate non-protic solvent at a suitable temperature, yields the 2'-alkylated sugar. The alkylated sugar optionally can be protected with a suitable protecting group, preferably with an acyl or silyl group, by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons,
Second Edition, 1991. The optionally protected sugar can then be coupled to the base by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Townsend, Chemistry of Nucleosides and
Nucleotides, Plenum Press, 1994. For example, an acylated sugar can be coupled to a silylated base with a Lewis acid, such as tin tetrachloride, titanium, tetrachloride, or
trimethylsilyltriflate in an appropriate solvent at a suitable temperature. Alternatively, a halo-sugar can e coupled to a silylated base in the presence of trimethylsilyltriflate. Subsequently, the nucleoside can be deprotected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. In a particular embodiment, the 2' -C-branched ribonucleoside is desired, the synthesis of which is shown in Scheme 3. Alternatively, a deoxyribonucleoside is desired. To obtain these nucleosides, the formed ribonucleoside can optionally be protected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991, and then the 2' -OH can e reduced with a suitable reducing agent. Optionally, the 2' -OH can be activated to facilitate reduction, such as, for example, by the Barton reduction.
Scheme 3
2. Modification of a pre-formed nucleoside The key starting material for this process is an appropriately substitoted nucleoside with a 2' -OH and 2'-H. The nucleoside can be purchased or can be prepared by any known means including standard coupling techniques. The nucleoside optionally can be protected with suitable protecting groups, preferably with acyl or silyl groups, by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. The appropriately protected nucleoside then can be oxidized with an appropriate oxidizing agent in a compatible solvent at a suitable temperature to yield the 2' -modified sugar. Possible oxidizing agents include Jones' reagent (a mixture of chromic and
sulfuric acids), Collins' reagent (dipyridine Cr(VI)oxide), Corey's reagent (pyridinium chlorochromate), pyridinium dichromate, acid dichromate, potassium permanganate, MnO2, ruthenium tetroxide, phase transfer catalysts such as chromic acid or permanganate supported on a polymer, Cl2-pyridine, H2O2-ammonium molydate, NarO2- CAN, NaOCl in HO Ac, copper chromate, copper oxide, Raney nickel, palladium acetate,
Meerwin-Pondorf-Verley reagent (aluminum t-butoxide with another ketone) and N- bromosuccinimide. Subsequently, the nucleoside can e deprotected y methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. In a particular embodiment, a 2' -C-branched ribonucleoside is desired, the synthesis of which is shown in Scheme 4. Alternatively, the deoxyribonucleoside may be desired. To obtain these nucleosides, the formed ribonucleoside optionally may be protected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991, and then the 2'-OH can be reduced with a suitable reducing agent. Optionally, the 2'- OH can be activated to facilitate reduction such as, for example, by the Barton reduction.
Scheme 4
1) Optional Protection 2) Optional Reduction t
Optional Deprotection
In another embodiment of the invention, the L-enantiomers are desired. These L- enantiomers corresponding to the compounds of the invention may be prepared following the same general methods given above, but beginning with the corresponding L-sugar or nucleoside L-enantiomer as the starting material.
C. General Synthesis of 3 '-C-branched Nucleosides A 3'-C-branched ribonucleoside of the following structure as an example:
wherein R1, R3, R5, and R' are all as defined above; X is as defined above; Base is as defined in the specification; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrag thereof; and all tautomeric, enantiomeric and stereoisomeric forms thereof.
Glycosylation of the nucleoase with an appropriately modified sugar. The key starting material for this process is an appropriately substitoted sugar with a 3' -OH and a 3'-H, with an appropriate leaving group (LG) such as, for example, an acyl group or a halogen. The sugar can be purchased or can be prepared by any known means including standard epimerization, substitution, oxidation and/or reduction techniques. The substitoted sugar then can be oxidized by an appropriate oxidizing agent in a compatible solvent at a suitable temperature to yield the 3 '-modified sugar. Possible oxidizing agents include Jones' reagent (a mixture of chromic and sulfuric acids), Collins' reagent (dipyridine Cr(VI)oxide), Corey's reagent (pyridinium chlorochromate), pyridinium dichromate, acid dichromate, potassium permanganate,
MnO , ruthenium tetroxide, phase transfer catalysts such as chromic acid or permanganate supported on a polymer, Cl2-pyridine, H2O2-ammonium molydate, NarO - CAN, NaOCl in HOAc, copper chromate, copper oxide, Raney nickel, palladium acetate,
Meerwin-Pondorf-Verley reagent (aluminum t-utoxide with another ketone) and N- bromosuccinimide. Then coupling of an organometallic carbon nucleophile such as a Grignard reagent, an organolithium, lithium dialkylcopper or R6-SiMe3 in TAF with the ketone and an appropriate non-protic solvent at a suitable temperature, yields the 3'-C-branched sugar. The 3 '-C-branched sugar optionally can e protected with a suitable protecting group, preferably with an acyl or silyl group, by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. The optionally protected sugar can then be coupled to the base by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught y Townsend, Chemistry of Nucleosides and Nucleotides, Plenum Press, 1994. For example, an acylated sugar can e coupled to a silylated base with a Lewis acid, such as tin tetrachloride, titanium tetrachloride, or trimethylsilyltriflate in an appropriate solvent at a suitable temperature. Alternatively, a halo-sugar can be coupled to a silylated base in the presence of trimethylsilyltriflate. Subsequently, the nucleoside can be deprotected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. In a particular embodiment, the 3 '-C-branched ribonucleoside is desired, the synthesis of which is shown in Scheme 5. Alternatively, a deoxyribonucleoside is desired. To obtain these nucleosides, the formed ribonucleoside can optionally be protected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991, and then the 2' -OH can be reduced with a suitable reducing agent. Optionally, the 2'- OH can be activated to facilitate reduction, such as, for example, by the Barton reduction.
Scheme 5
1) Optional Protection 2) Optional Reduction
. ptional, DejKptectipn..
Modification of a pre-formed nucleoside. The key starting material for this process is an appropriately substitoted nucleoside with a 3'-OH and 3'-H. The nucleoside can be purchased or can be prepared by any known means including standard coupling techniques. The nucleoside can be optionally protected with suitable protecting groups, preferably with acyl or silyl groups, by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as taught by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. The appropriately protected nucleoside can then be oxidized with the appropriate oxidizing agent in a compatible solvent at a suitable temperature to yield the 2' -modified
sugar. Possible oxidizing agents include Jones' reagent (a mixture of chromic and sulfuric acids), Collins' reagent (dipyridine Cr(VI)oxide), Corey's reagent (pyridinium chlorochromate), pyridinium dichromate, acid dichromate, potassium permanganate, MnO2, ruthenium tetroxide, phase transfer catalysts such as chromic acid or permanganate supported on a polymer, Cl2-pyridine, H2θ2-ammonium molybdate,
NarO2-CAN, NaOCl in HOAc, copper chromate, copper oxide, Raney nickel, palladium acetate, Meerwin-Pondorf-Verley reagent (aluminum t-butoxide with another ketone) and N-bromosuccinimide. Subsequently, the nucleoside can be deprotected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al., Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991. In a particular embodiment, the 3 '-C-branched ribonucleoside is desired, the synthesis of which is shown in Scheme 6. Alternatively, a deoxyribonucleoside is desired. To obtain these nucleosides, the formed ribonucleoside can optionally be protected by methods well known to those skilled in the art, as by Greene et al.,
Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, Second Edition, 1991, and then the 2' -OH can be reduced with a suitable reducing agent. Optionally, the 2'- OH can be activated to facilitate reduction, such as, for example, by the Barton reduction.
Scheme 6
1) Optional Protection 2) Optional Reduction 1
In another embodiment of the invention, the L-enantiomers are desired. These L- enantiomers corresponding to the compounds of the invention may e prepared following the same general methods given above, but beginning with the corresponding L-sugar or nucleoside L-enantiomer as the starting material.
The present invention is described by way of illustration in the following examples. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that these examples
are in no way limiting and that variations of detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
EXAMPLES
Example 1. CC50 and EC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-adenosine (Compound A) and β-D-2' -C-methyl-2-amino adenosine (Compound B)
Note: Cell lines utilized include MT-4 for HIV; Vero 76, African green monkey kidney cells for SARS-CoV; BHK for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Viras; Sb-1 for poliovims Sabin type-1; CVB-2, CVB-3, CVB-4, and CVA-9 for Coxsackievimses B-2, B-3, B-4 and A- 9; and REO-1 for double-stranded RNA viruses.
Example 2. CC50 and EC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-guanosine (Compound C) and β-D-2' -C-methyl-6-chloro-guanosine (Compound D)
Example 3. CC
50 and EC
50 Test Results for 3',5'-di-0-valinyl ester of β-D-2' -C- methyl -guanosine dihydrochloride salt (Compound E)
Example 4. CC50 and EC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-7-methyl-6-phenyl- 3,3a,5,8a-tetrahydro-l,3,4,5,7a-penta-aza-s-indacen-8-one (Compound F)
Example 5. CC50 and EC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-cytidine (Compound G)
Example 6. CC
50 and EC
50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-ethynyl-adenosine (Compound H)
Example 7. CC50 and EC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-ethynyl-cytidine (Compound I)
Example 8. CC50 and EC50 Test Results for β-D-2-amino-adenosine (Compound J)
Example 9. CC
50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-adenosine (Compound A), β-D-2' - C-methyl-2-amino adenosine (Compound B), and β-D-2' -C-methyl-2-amino-6- cyclopropyl adenosine(Compound K)
Note: BVDV = bovine viral diarrhea viras; YFV = yellow fever viras; WNV = West Nile virus; CVB-2 = Coxsackie B-2 virus; Sb-1 = Sabin type 1 poliomyelitis viras; and REO = double-stranded RNA Reoviras.
Example 10. CC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-guanosine (Compound C), β-D- 2'-C-methyl-l-(methyl-2-oxo-2-phenyl ethyl)guanosine (Compound L), and β-D-2'-C- methyl-6-chloro guanosine (Compound D)
Example 11. CC50 Test Results for 3',5'-di-0-valinyl ester of β-D-2' -C-methyl- guanosine dihydrochloride salt (Compound E)
Example 12. CC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-7-methyl-6-phenyl-3,3a,5,8a- tetrahydro-l,3,4,5,7a-penta-aza-J-indacen-8-one (Compound F)
Example 13. CC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-ethynyl-adenosine (Compound H)
Example 14. CC50 Test Results for β-D-2' -C-methyl-cytidine (Compound G), 3'-0- valinyl ester of β-D-2' -C-methyl-cytidine dihydrochloride salt (Compound M), and β-D- 2'-C-methyl-uracil (Compound N)