Application of phosphoramidate pronucleotide technology to abacavir leads to a significant enhancement of antiviral potency

We report the first application of pronucleotide (ProTide) technology to the antiviral agent abacavir (Ziagen), used for the treatment of HIV infection. The phenylmethoxyalaninyl phosphoramidate of abacavir was prepared in good yield in one step. Also prepared was the corresponding phosphoramidate of the guanine nucleoside analogue carbovir. The antiviral profile of each of the parent nucleosides was compared to that of the phosphoramidate ProTides. A significant (28- to 60-fold) increase in anti-HIV potency was noted for the ProTide of abacavir but not for that of carbovir. These findings were in agreement with the markedly higher (ca. 37-fold) levels of carbovir triphosphate that are formed in CEM cells upon response to the abacavir ProTide compared with the parent abacavir compound. In contrast the anti-HBV potency of both abacavir and carbovir were improved (10- and 20-fold, respectively) by ProTide formation. As in CEM cells, the abacavir ProTide provided significantly enhanced carbovir triphosphate levels in HepG2 2.2.15 cells over that of the parent nucleoside. On the basis of these data, a series of phosphoramidate analogues with structural variation in the ester and amino acid regions were prepared and their antiviral profiles described. In addition, the pharmacokinetic disposition of the abacavir phenylethoxyalaninyl phosphoramidate was evaluated in Cynomolgus monkeys.