The metabolism and disposition of a potent inhibitor of hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease

Xenobiotica. 2010 Dec;40(12):826-39. doi: 10.3109/00498254.2010.519061. Epub 2010 Oct 7.

Abstract

Compound A ((1aR,5S,8S,10R,22aR)-5-tert-butyl-N-{(1R,2S)-1-[(cyclopropylsulfonyl)carbamoyl]-2-ethenylcyclopropyl}-14-methoxy-3,6-dioxo-1,1a,3,4,5,6,9,10,18,19,20,21,22,22a-tetradecahydro-8H-7,10-methanocyclopropa[18,19][1,10,3,6]dioxadiazacyclononadecino[12,11-b]quinoline-8-carboxamide) is a prototype of a series of subnanomolar inhibitors of genotypes 1, 2, and 3 hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A proteases. HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors have demonstrated high antiviral effects in patients with chronic HCV infection and are likely to form a key component of future HCV therapy. Compound A showed excellent liver exposure in rats, which is essential for compounds intended to treat HCV. The compound was mainly eliminated intact in bile and showed greater than dose proportional systemic exposure in rats. Compound A demonstrated time- and temperature-dependent uptake into rat and human hepatocytes and proved to be a substrate for rat hepatic uptake transporter Oatp1b2 and for human hepatic uptake transporters OATP1B1 and OATP1B3. The liver selectivity observed for this compound is likely to be due to transporter-mediated hepatic uptake together with moderate passive permeability. Metabolism was mainly CYP3A-mediated and generated a reactive epoxide on the vinylcyclopropyl sulfonamide moiety that could be quenched by glutathione. Similar metabolic profiles of Compound A were obtained in liver microsomes of rats and humans. The oral bioavailability at 5 mg/kg was low due to extensive hepatic first-pass effect but clearly the intestinal absorption was enough to deliver a high amount of the compound to the liver. The metabolism and disposition properties of Compound A are particularly attractive to support its evaluation as a drug candidate for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Dogs
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepacivirus / enzymology*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / drug effects
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Protease Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protease Inhibitors / blood
  • Protease Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Time Factors
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins