Discovery of (7R)-14-Cyclohexyl-7-{[2-(Dimethylamino)Ethyl] (Methyl)Amino}-7,8-Dihydro-6H-Indolo[1,2-E][1,5] Benzoxazocine -11-Carboxylic Acid (Mk-3281), a Potent and Orally Bioavailable Finger-Loop Inhibitor of the Hepatitis C Virus Ns5B Polymerase
Narjes, F., Crescenzi, B., Ferrara, M., Habermann, J., Colarusso, S., Del Rosario Rico Ferreira, M., Stansfield, I., Mackay, A.C., Conte, I., Ercolani, C., Zaramella, S., Palumbi, M.C., Meuleman, P., Leroux-Roels, G., Giuliano, C., Fiore, F., Di Marco, S., Baiocco, P., Koch, U., Migliaccio, G., Altamura, S., Laufer, R., De Francesco, R., Rowley, M.(2011) J Med Chem 54: 289
- PubMed: 21141896 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm1013105
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2XWY - PubMed Abstract: 
Infections caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) are a significant world health problem for which novel therapies are in urgent demand. The polymerase of HCV is responsible for the replication of viral genome and has been a prime target for drug discovery efforts. Here, we report on the further development of tetracyclic indole inhibitors, binding to an allosteric site on the thumb domain. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies around an indolo-benzoxazocine scaffold led to the identification of compound 33 (MK-3281), an inhibitor with good potency in the HCV subgenomic replication assay and attractive molecular properties suitable for a clinical candidate. The compound caused a consistent decrease in viremia in vivo using the chimeric mouse model of HCV infection.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Istituto Di Ricerche Di Biologia Molecolare, P. Angeletti SpA (Merck Research Laboratories, Rome), Pomezia, Italy. Frank.Narjes@astrazeneca.com