Download MendeleyDelineating Structural Functionalities of Lenacapavir Amenable to Modifications for Targeting Emerging Drug-Resistant HIV‐1 Capsid Variants.
Adu-Ampratwum, D., Annamalai, A.S., Dinh, T., Lockwood, J.R., Bockbrader, R.H., Haney, R., Kvaratskhelia, M., Fuchs, J.R.(2025) ACS Med Chem Lett 16: 2007-2014
- PubMed: 41089487 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00405
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9N0V - PubMed Abstract:
Lenacapavir (LEN) is a new, first-in-class, long acting, HIV-1 capsid (CA)-targeting inhibitor for treating multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infections. LEN exhibits high potency against all major HIV-1 subtypes including variants resistant to current antiretroviral therapies providing a life-saving opportunity for heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug-resistant HIV-1. Despite this, LEN has a relatively low barrier to viral resistance. Clinical trials identified resistance-associated mutations near LEN binding site, with the M66I variant exhibiting highest level of resistance (>3200-fold). These findings necessitate continuing efforts to develop next-generation inhibitors against emerging LEN-resistant mutation. We focused on identifying LEN structural functionalities amenable to modifications and to develop LEN analogs with improved antiviral activity against the M66I mutant. Here, we report a new LEN analog, KFA-027, with substantially improved antiviral activity (EC 50 ∼ 444 nM, >20-fold) against M66I variant. Overall, these findings suggest a route for developing next-generation LEN analogs against WT and emerging drug-resistant CA mutations.
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States.
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