Publications by authors named "Karen R Romines"

The identification and optimization of a series of substituted tetrahydro-beta-carbolines with potent activity against human papillomavirus is described. Structure-activity studies focused on the substitution pattern and chirality of the beta-carboline ring system are discussed. Optimization of these parameters led to compounds with antiviral activities in the low nanomolar range.

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Synthesis of a series of tetrahydrocarbazole amides with potent activity against human papillomaviruses is described. Synthetic approaches allowing for variation of the substitution pattern of the tetrahydrocarbazole and the amide are outlined and resulting changes in antiviral activity and certain developability parameters are highlighted. Several compounds with in vitro antiviral activity (W12 antiviral assay) in the single digit nanomolar range were identified and N-[(1R)-6-chloro-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-1-yl]-2-pyridinecarboxamide was selected for further evaluation.

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The synthesis and SAR of a series of substituted 1-aminotetrahydrocarbazoles with potent activity against human papillomaviruses are described. Synthetic approaches allowing for variation of the substitution pattern of the tetrahydrocarbazole are outlined and resulting changes in antiviral activity are highlighted. Several compounds with in vitro antiviral activity (W12 antiviral assay) in the low nanomolar range were identified and (1R)-6-bromo-N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazole-1-amine was selected for further evaluation.

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GSK983, a novel tetrahydrocarbazole, inhibits the replication of a variety of unrelated viruses in vitro with EC(50) values of 5-20 nM. Both replication of the adenovirus Ad-5 and the polyoma virus SV-40, and episomal maintenance of human papillomaviruses (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are susceptible to GSK983. The compound does not inhibit all viruses; herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and lytic replication of EBV were not susceptible at concentrations below 1 microM.

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Owing to the emergence of resistant virus, next generation non-nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) with improved drug resistance profiles have been developed to treat HIV infection. Crystal structures of HIV-1 RT complexed with benzophenones optimized for inhibition of HIV mutants that were resistant to the prototype benzophenone GF128590 indicate factors contributing to the resilience of later compounds in the series (GW4511, GW678248). Meta-substituents on the benzophenone A-ring had the designed effect of inducing better contacts with the conserved W229 while reducing aromatic stacking interactions with the highly mutable Y181 side chain, which unexpectedly adopted a "down" position.

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Despite the progress of the past two decades, there is still considerable need for safe, efficacious drugs that target human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is particularly true for the growing number of patients infected with virus resistant to currently approved HIV drugs. Our high throughput screening effort identified a benzophenone template as a potential nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).

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GW678248, a novel nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, has been evaluated for anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity in a variety of in vitro assays against laboratory strains and clinical isolates. When GW678248 was tested in combination with approved drugs in the nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor classes or the protease inhibitor class, the antiviral activities were either synergistic or additive. When GW678248 was tested in combination with approved drugs in the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor class, the antiviral activities were either additive or slightly antagonistic.

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The compound GW678248 is a novel benzophenone nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Preclinical assessment of GW678248 indicates that this compound potently inhibits wild-type (WT) and mutant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase in biochemical assays, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) between 0.8 and 6.

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GW4511, GW4751, and GW3011 showed IC50 values < or =2 nM against wild type HIV-1 and <10 nM against 16 mutants. They were particularly potent against NNRTI-resistant viruses containing Y181C-, K103N-, and K103N-based double mutations, which account for a significant proportion of the clinical failure of the three currently marketed NNRTIs. The antiviral data together with the favorable pharmacokinetic data of GW4511 suggested that these benzophenones possess attributes of a new NNRTI drug candidate.

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