Download MendeleyDesign of quinoline SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitors as oral antiviral drug candidates.
Jadhav, P., Liang, X., Ansari, A., Tan, B., Tan, H., Li, K., Chi, X., Ford, A., Ruiz, F.X., Arnold, E., Deng, X., Wang, J.(2025) Nat Commun 16: 1604-1604
- PubMed: 39948104
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56902-x
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
9DNU, 9DNV, 9DO1, 9DO3, 9DO5, 9DOI - PubMed Abstract:
The ever-evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants necessitate the development of additional oral antivirals. This study presents the systematic design of quinoline-containing SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PL pro ) inhibitors as potential oral antiviral drug candidates. By leveraging the recently discovered Val70 Ub binding site in PL pro , we designed a series of quinoline analogs demonstrating potent PL pro inhibition and antiviral activity. Notably, the X-ray crystal structures of 6 lead compounds reveal that the 2-aryl substitution can occupy either the Val70 Ub site as expected or the BL2 groove in a flipped orientation. The in vivo lead Jun13296 exhibits favorable pharmacokinetic properties and potent inhibition against SARS-CoV-2 variants and nirmatrelvir-resistant mutants. In a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, oral treatment with Jun13296 significantly improves survival, reduces body weight loss and lung viral titers, and prevents lung tissue damage. These results underscore the potential of quinoline PL pro inhibitors as promising oral SARS-CoV-2 antiviral candidates, instilling hope for the future of SARS-CoV-2 treatment.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
