Structure-based discovery of pyrazolobenzothiazine derivatives as inhibitors of hepatitis C virus replication.

ABSTRACT: The NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is an attractive target for the development of novel and selective inhibitors of hepatitis C virus replication. To identify novel structural hits as anti-HCV agents, we performed structure-based virtual screening of our in-house library followed by rational drug design, organic synthesis, and biological testing. These studies led to the identification of pyrazolobenzothiazine scaffold as a suitable template for obtaining novel anti-HCV agents targeting the NS5B polymerase. The best compound of this series was the meta-fluoro-N-1-phenyl pyrazolobenzothiazine derivative 4a, which exhibited an EC50 = 3.6 ?M, EC90 = 25.6 ?M, and CC50 > 180 ?M in the Huh 9-13 replicon system, thus providing a good starting point for further hit evolution.

SUBMITTER: Barreca ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3627225 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature