Affiliation:
1. Immunic AG Lochhamer Schlag 21 82166 Gräfelfing Germany
2. Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Schlossgarten 4 91054 Erlangen Germany
3. Department of Vaccines and Infection Models, Unit Preclinical Validation Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI Perlickstrasse 1 04103 Leipzig Germany
4. Institute of Veterinary Pathology Freie Universität Berlin Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 15 14163 Berlin Germany
Abstract
AbstractNew strategies for the rapid development of broad‐spectrum antiviral therapies are urgently required for emerging and re‐emerging viruses like the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Host‐directed antivirals that target universal cellular metabolic pathways necessary for viral replication present a promising approach with broad‐spectrum activity and low potential for development of viral resistance. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) was identified as one of those universal host factors essential for the replication of many clinically relevant human pathogenic viruses. DHODH is the rate‐limiting enzyme catalyzing the fourth step in the de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Therefore, it is also developed as a therapeutic target for many diseases relying on cellular pyrimidine resources, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and viral or bacterial infection. Thus, several DHODH inhibitors, including vidofludimus calcium (VidoCa, IMU‐838), are currently in development or have been investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of virus infections such as SARS‐CoV‐2‐mediated coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19). Here, we report the medicinal chemistry optimization of VidoCa that resulted in metabolically more stable derivatives with improved DHODH target inhibition in various mammalian species, which translated into improved efficacy against SARS‐CoV‐2.
Funder
Bayerische Forschungsstiftung