Differential Bioactivation Profiles of Different GS-441524 Prodrugs in Cell and Mouse Models: ProTide Prodrugs with High Cell Permeability and Susceptibility to Cathepsin A Are More Efficient in Delivering Antiviral Active Metabolites to the Lung

  • J Med Chem. 2024 May 9;67(9):7470-7486. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00234.
Jiapeng Li  1 ,  Daniel Macedo de Melo Jorge  2 ,  Weiwen Wang  1 ,  Shuxin Sun  1  3 ,  Tristan Frum  4 ,  Yu-An Hang  1 ,  Yueting Liu  1 ,  Xingwu Zhou  3 ,  Jingcheng Xiao  3 ,  Xinwen Wang  5 ,  Jason R Spence  4  6  7 ,  Christiane E Wobus  2 ,  Hao-Jie Zhu  1
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
  • 2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
  • 3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
  • 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
  • 5. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy, Rootstown, Ohio 44272, United States.
  • 6. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
  • 7. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
PMID: 38690769 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00234
Abstract

We assessed factors that determine the tissue-specific bioactivation of ProTide prodrugs by comparing the disposition and activation of remdesivir (RDV), its methylpropyl and isopropyl ester analogues (MeRDV and IsoRDV, respectively), the oral prodrug GS-621763, and the parent nucleotide GS-441524 (Nuc). RDV and MeRDV yielded more active metabolite remdesivir-triphosphate (RDV-TP) than IsoRDV, GS-621763, and Nuc in human lung cell models due to superior cell permeability and higher susceptivity to Cathepsin A. Intravenous administration to mice showed that RDV and MeRDV delivered significantly more RDV-TP to the lung than Other compounds. Nevertheless, all four ester prodrugs exhibited very low oral bioavailability (<2%), with Nuc being the predominant metabolite in blood. In conclusion, ProTides prodrugs, such as RDV and MeRDV, are more efficient in delivering active metabolites to the lung than Nuc, driven by high cell permeability and susceptivity to Cathepsin A. Optimizing ProTides' ester structures is an effective strategy for enhancing prodrug activation in the lung.

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