# Patent

## Title
2-(aryl or heteroaryl-)phenyl (AZA)benzofuran compounds for the treatment of hepatitis C

## Abstract

Compounds of Formula I, including their salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds are set forth. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV: formula (I).

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This non-provisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/001,243 filed May 21, 2014 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to novel compounds, including their salts, which have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and which are useful in treating those infected with HCV. The invention also relates to compositions and methods of making and using these compounds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major human pathogen, infecting an estimated 170 million persons worldwide-roughly five times the number infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1.A substantial fraction of these HCV infected individuals develop serious progressive liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (Lauer, G. M.; Walker, B. D. N. Engl. J. Med. 2001, 345, 41-52).
HCV is a positive-stranded RNA virus. Based on a comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence and the extensive similarity in the 5′-untranslated region, HCV has been classified as a separate genus in the Flaviviridae family. All members of the Flaviviridae family have enveloped virions that contain a positive stranded RNA genome encoding all known virus-specific proteins via translation of a single, uninterrupted, open reading frame.
Considerable heterogeneity is found within the nucleotide and encoded amino acid sequence throughout the HCV genome. At least six major genotypes have been characterized, and more than 50 subtypes have been described. The major genotypes of HCV differ in their distribution worldwide, and the clinical significance of the genetic heterogeneity of HCV remains elusive despite numerous studies of the possible effect of genotypes on pathogenesis and therapy.
The single strand HCV RNA genome is approximately 9500 nucleotides in length and has a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding a single large polyprotein of about 3000 amino acids. In infected cells, this polyprotein is cleaved at multiple sites by cellular and viral proteases to produce the structural and non-structural (NS) proteins. In the case of HCV, the generation of mature non-structural proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B) is effected by two viral proteases. The first one is believed to be a metalloprotease and cleaves at the NS2-NS3 junction; the second one is a serine protease contained within the N-terminal region of NS3 (also referred to as NS3 protease) and mediates all the subsequent cleavages downstream of NS3, both in cis, at the NS3-NS4A cleavage site, and in trans, for the remaining NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A, NS5A-NS5B sites. The NS4A protein appears to serve multiple functions, acting as a cofactor for the NS3 protease and possibly assisting in the membrane localization of NS3 and other viral replicase components. The complex formation of the NS3 protein with NS4A seems necessary to the processing events, enhancing the proteolytic efficiency at all of the sites. The NS3 protein also exhibits nucleoside triphosphatase and RNA helicase activities. NS5B (also referred to as HCV polymerase) is a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that is involved in the replication of HCV. The HCV NS5B protein is described in “Structural Analysis of the Hepatitis C Virus RNA Polymerase in Complex with Ribonucleotides (Bressanelli; S. et al., Journal of Virology 2002, 3482-3492; and Defrancesco and Rice, Clinics in Liver Disease 2003, 7, 211-242.
Currently, the most effective HCV therapy employs a combination of alpha-interferon and ribavirin, leading to sustained efficacy in 40% of patients (Poynard, T. et al. Lancet 1998, 352, 1426-1432). Recent clinical results demonstrate that pegylated alpha-interferon is superior to unmodified alpha-interferon as monotherapy (Zeuzem, S. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 2000, 343, 1666-1672). However, even with experimental therapeutic regimens involving combinations of pegylated alpha-interferon and ribavirin, a substantial fraction of patients do not have a sustained reduction in viral load. Thus, there is a clear and important need to develop effective therapeutics for treatment of HCV infection.
HCV-796, an HCV NS5B inhibitor, has shown an ability to reduce HCV RNA levels in patients. The viral RNA levels decreased transiently and then rebounded during dosing when treatment was with the compound as a single agent but levels dropped more robustly when combined with the standard of care which is a form of interferon and ribavirin. The development of this compound was suspended due to hepatic toxicity observed during extended dosing of the combination regimens. U.S. Pat. No. 7,265,152 and the corresponding PCT patent application WO2004/041201 describe compounds of the HCV-796 class. Other compounds have been disclosed; see for example, WO2009/101022, as well as WO 2012/058125.
What is therefore needed in the art are additional compounds which are novel and are effective against hepatitis C. Additionally, these compounds should provide advantages for pharmaceutical uses, for example, with regard to one or more of their mechanism of action, binding, inhibition efficacy, target selectivity, solubility, safety profiles, and/or bioavailability. Also needed are new formulations and methods of treatment which utilize these compounds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention is a compound of Formula I including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:




wherein

    m is 0 or 1;
    X is N or C—R10;
    R1 is methyl;
    R2 is Ar1;
    Ar1 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR101, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR102R103, COOR102R103, S(O)2NR102R103, and NR101CONR102R103;
    R101 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R102, R103 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R102 and R103 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R102 and R103;
    R3 is hydrogen, halo, or alkyl;
    R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxycycloalkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyloxy, alkoxyalkyloxy, COOR201 and CON(R202)(R203);
    R201 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R202, R203 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl alkynyl, cyclic ether, cyclic amine, lactame, fused bicyclic alkyl, bridged bicyclic alkyl, spiro bicyclic alkyl, fused bicyclic ether, bridged bicyclic ether, spiro bicyclic ether, fused bicyclic amine, bridged bicyclic amine and spiro bicyclic amine, with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of halo, OH, OR104, NH2, NR105R106, COOR104, CONR105R106, S(O)2R104, S(O)2NR105R106, NR104CONR105R106,
    OR104CONR105R106, C(═NR107)NR105R106, NR108C(═NR107)NR105R106, haloalkoxy, Ar2, O—Ar2, and NR105—Ar2; or
    R202 and R203 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R202 and R203;
    R202 and R203 can also form bicyclic or tricyclic rings by joining multiple atoms from each of R202 and R203;
    R104 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R105, R106 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R105R106 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R105 and R106;
    R107, R108 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R107 and R108 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R107 and R108;
    Ar2 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR204, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR205R206, COOR204, CONR205R206, S(O)2R204, S(O)2NR205R206, and NR204CONR205R206;
    R204 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R205, R206 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R205 and R206 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R205 and R206;
    R9 is selected from the group of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, Ar3 and NR301R302;
    R301 is selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, benzyl, alkylcarbonyl, haloalkyl carbonyl, phenyl carbonyl, (alkoxyphenyl)carbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (alkoxyphenyl)sulfonyl and (haloalkoxyphenyl)sulfonyl;
    R302 is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkoxyalkyl; or
    R301 and R302 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached is oxazolidinonyl or dioxothiazinyl;
    Ar3 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR303, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR304R305, COOR303, CONR304R305, S(O)2R303, S(O)2NR304R305, and NR303CONR304R305;
    R303 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R304, R305 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R304 and R305 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R304 and R305;
    R10 is hydrogen, alkyl, halo, N(R401)(R402), or alkylsulfonyl;
    R401 and R402 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylsulfonyl, and alkylsulfonylalkyl;
    or N(R401)(R402) taken together is azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, or piperazinyl, and is substituted with 0-2 substituents selected from alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and hydroxy.


The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula I, including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or diluent.
In addition, the invention provides one or more methods of treating hepatitis C infection comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I to a patient.
Also provided as part of the invention are one or more methods for making the compounds of Formula I.
The present invention is directed to these, as well as other important ends, hereinafter described.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural reference unless the context specifically dictates otherwise.
Unless otherwise specifically set forth elsewhere in the application, the following terms may be used herein and shall have the following meanings: “Hydrogen” or “H” refers to hydrogen, including its isotopes, such as deuterium. “Halo” means fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo. “Alkyl” means a straight or branched alkyl group composed of 1 to 6 carbons. “Alkenyl” means a straight or branched alkyl group composed of 2 to 6 carbons with at least one double bond. “Cycloalkyl” means a monocyclic ring system composed of 3 to 7 carbons. “Hydroxyalkyl,” “alkoxy” and other terms with a substituted alkyl moiety include straight and branched isomers composed of 1 to 6 carbon atoms for the alkyl moiety. “Halo” includes all halogenated isomers from monohalo substituted to perhalo substituted in substituents defined with halo, for example, “Haloalkyl” and “haloalkoxy”, “halophenyl”, “halophenoxy.” “Aryl” means a monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon groups having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or a bicyclic fused ring system wherein one or both of the rings is a phenyl group. Bicyclic fused ring systems consist of a phenyl group fused to a four- to six-membered aromatic or non-aromatic carbocyclic ring. Representative examples of aryl groups include, but are not limited to, indanyl, indenyl, naphthyl, phenyl, and tetrahydronaphthyl. “Heteroaryl” means a 5 to 7 membered monocyclic or 8 to 11 membered bicyclic aromatic ring system with 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Parenthetic and multiparenthetic terms are intended to clarify bonding relationships to those skilled in the art. For example, a term such as ((R)alkyl) means an alkyl substituent further substituted with the substituent R. Substituents which are illustrated by chemical drawing to bond at variable positions on a multiple ring system (for example a bicyclic ring system) are intended to bond to the ring where they are drawn to append.
The invention includes all pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms of the compounds. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are those in which the counter ions do not contribute significantly to the physiological activity or toxicity of the compounds and as such function as pharmacological equivalents. These salts can be made according to common organic techniques employing commercially available reagents. Some anionic salt forms include acetate, acistrate, besylate, bromide, camsylate, chloride, citrate, fumarate, glucouronate, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroiodide, iodide, lactate, maleate, mesylate, nitrate, pamoate, phosphate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, tosylate, and xinofoate. Some cationic salt forms include ammonium, aluminum, benzathine, bismuth, calcium, choline, diethylamine, diethanolamine, lithium, magnesium, meglumine, 4-phenylcyclohexylamine, piperazine, potassium, sodium, tromethamine, and zinc.
Some of the compounds of the invention possess asymmetric carbon atoms. The invention includes all stereoisomeric forms, including enantiomers and diastereomers as well as mixtures of stereoisomers such as racemates. Some stereoisomers can be made using methods known in the art. Stereoisomeric mixtures of the compounds and related intermediates can be separated into individual isomers according to methods commonly known in the art. The use of wedges or hashes in the depictions of molecular structures in the following schemes and tables is intended only to indicate relative stereochemistry, and should not be interpreted as implying absolute stereochemical assignments.
The invention is intended to include all isotopes of atoms occurring in the present compounds. Isotopes include those atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers. By way of general example and without limitation, isotopes of hydrogen include deuterium and tritium. Isotopes of carbon include 13C and 14C. Isotopically-labeled compounds of the invention can generally be prepared by conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art or by processes analogous to those described herein, using an appropriate isotopically-labeled reagent in place of the non-labeled reagent otherwise employed. Such compounds may have a variety of potential uses, for example as standards and reagents in determining biological activity. In the case of stable isotopes, such compounds may have the potential to favorably modify biological, pharmacological, or pharmacokinetic properties.
As set forth above, the invention is directed to one or more compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:




wherein

    m is 0 or 1;
    X is N or C—R10;
    R1 is methyl;
    R2 is Ar1;
    Ar1 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR101, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR102R103, COOR101, CONR102R103, S(O)2R101, S(O)2NR102R103, and NR101CONR102R103;
    R101 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R102, R103 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R102 and R103 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R102 and R103;
    R3 is hydrogen, halo, or alkyl;
    R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxycycloalkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyloxy, alkoxyalkyloxy, COOR201 and CON(R202)(R203);
    R201 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R202, R203 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl alkynyl, cyclic ether, cyclic amine, lactame, fused bicyclic alkyl, bridged bicyclic alkyl, spiro bicyclic alkyl, fused bicyclic ether, bridged bicyclic ether, spiro bicyclic ether, fused bicyclic amine, bridged bicyclic amine and spiro bicyclic amine, with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of halo, OH, OR104, NH2, NR105R106, COOR104, CONR105R106, S(O)2R104, S(O)2NR105R106, NR104CONR105R106, OR104CONR105R106, C(═NR107)NR105R106, NR108C(═NR107)NR105R106, haloalkoxy, Ar5, O—Ar2, and NR105—Ar2; or
    R202 and R203 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R202 and R203;
    R202 and R203 can also form bicyclic or tricyclic rings by joining multiple atoms from each of R202 and R203;
    R104 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R105, R106 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R105 and R106 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R105 and R106;
    R107, R108 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R107 and R108 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R107 and R108;
    Ar2 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR204, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR205R206, COOR204, CONR205R206, S(O)2R204, S(O)2NR205R206, and NR204CONR205R206;
    R204 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R205, R206 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R205 and R206 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R205 and R206;
    R9 is selected from the group of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, Ar3 and NR301R302;
    R301 is selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, benzyl, alkylcarbonyl, haloalkyl carbonyl, phenyl carbonyl, (alkoxyphenyl)carbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (alkoxyphenyl)sulfonyl and (haloalkoxyphenyl)sulfonyl;
    R302 is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkoxyalkyl; or
    R301 and R302 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached is oxazolidinonyl or dioxothiazinyl;
    Ar3 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR303, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR304R305, COOR303, CONR304R305, S(O)2R303, S(O)2NR304R305, and NR303CONR304R305;
    R303 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
    R304, R305 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
    R304 and R305 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R304 and R305;
    R10 is hydrogen, alkyl, halo, N(R401)(R402), or alkylsulfonyl;
    R401 and R402 are independently selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylsulfonyl, and alkylsulfonylalkyl;
    or N(R401)(R402) taken together is azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, or piperazinyl, and is substituted with 0-2 substituents selected from alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and hydroxy.


In a preferred embodiment of the invention, m is 0.
It is further preferred that R1 is alkyl, and more preferably methyl.
It is also preferred that R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 are each selected from CON(R202)(R203). More preferably, R5 is CON(R202)(R203).
Additionally, it is preferred that R202 and R203 are hydrogen or alkyl.
In certain embodiments it is also preferred that R2 is a 5-membered heteroaryl group. More preferably, the heteroaryl group will contain 2 to 3 nitrogens.
It is also preferred that R9 is selected from the group of haloalkyl, Ar3 and NR301R302. The haloalkyl is preferably 1-3 fluoroalkyl, and more preferably is 1-3 fluoropropyl. In another embodiment, it is preferred that R9 is NR301, and R301 is selected from alkyl and alkylsulfonyl. In a further embodiment, it is preferred that Ar3 is substituted pyrazole.
R10 is preferably hydrogen.
Also preferred are compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are selected from the group of:













Also preferred are compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are selected from the group of:




Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods of Treatment
The compounds according to the various embodiments herein set forth demonstrate activity against HCV NS5B, and can be useful in treating HCV and HCV infection. Therefore, another aspect of the invention is a composition comprising a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or diluent.
Another aspect of the invention is a composition further comprising an additional compound having anti-HCV activity.
Another aspect of the invention is a composition where the compound having anti-HCV activity is an interferon or a ribavirin. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the interferon is selected from interferon alpha 2B, pegylated interferon alpha, consensus interferon, interferon alpha 2A, interferon lambda, and lymphoblastoid interferon tau.
Another aspect of the invention is a composition where the compound having anti-HCV activity is a cyclosporin. Another aspect of the invention is where the cyclosporin is cyclosporin A.
Another aspect of the invention is a composition where the compound having anti-HCV activity is selected from the group consisting of interleukin 2, interleukin 6, interleukin 12, a compound that enhances the development of a type 1 helper T cell response, interfering RNA, anti-sense RNA, Imiqimod, ribavirin, an inosine 5′-monophospate dehydrogenase inhibitor, amantadine, and rimantadine.
Another aspect of the invention is a composition where the compound having anti-HCV activity is effective to inhibit the function of a target selected from HCV metalloprotease, HCV serine protease, HCV polymerase, HCV helicase, HCV NS4B protein, HCV entry, HCV assembly, HCV egress, HCV NS5A protein, IMPDH, and a nucleoside analog for the treatment of an HCV infection.
Another aspect of the invention is a composition comprising a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, an interferon and ribavirin.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of inhibiting the function of the HCV replicon comprising contacting the HCV replicon with a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of inhibiting the function of the HCV NS5B protein comprising contacting the HCV NS5B protein with a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of treating an HCV infection in a patient comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In another embodiment the compound is effective to inhibit the function of the HCV replicon. In another embodiment the compound is effective to inhibit the function of the HCV NS5B protein.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of treating an HCV infection in a patient comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in conjunction with (prior to, after, or concurrently) another compound having anti-HCV activity.
Another aspect of the invention is the method wherein the other compound having anti-HCV activity is an interferon or a ribavirin.
Another aspect of the invention is the method where the interferon is selected from interferon alpha 2B, pegylated interferon alpha, consensus interferon, interferon alpha 2A, interferon lambda, and lymphoblastoid interferon tau.
Another aspect of the invention is the method where the other compound having anti-HCV activity is a cyclosporin.
Another aspect of the invention is the method where the cyclosporin is cyclosporin A.
Another aspect of the invention is the method where the other compound having anti-HCV activity is selected from interleukin 2, interleukin 6, interleukin 12, a compound that enhances the development of a type 1 helper T cell response, interfering RNA, anti-sense RNA, Imiqimod, ribavirin, an inosine 5′-monophospate dehydrogenase inhibitor, amantadine, and rimantadine.
Another aspect of the invention is the method wherein the other compound having anti-HCV activity is effective to inhibit the function of a target selected from the group consisting of HCV metalloprotease, HCV serine protease, HCV polymerase, HCV helicase, HCV NS4B protein, HCV entry, HCV assembly, HCV egress, HCV NS5A protein, IMPDH, and a nucleoside analog for the treatment of an HCV infection.
Another aspect of the invention is the method wherein the other compound having anti-HCV activity is effective to inhibit the function of target in the HCV life cycle other than the HCV NS5B protein.
“Therapeutically effective” means the amount of agent required to provide a meaningful patient benefit as understood by practitioners in the field of hepatitis and HCV infection.
“Patient” means a person infected with the HCV virus and suitable for therapy as understood by practitioners in the field of hepatitis and HCV infection.
“Treatment,” “therapy,” “regimen,” “HCV infection,” and related terms are used as understood by practitioners in the field of hepatitis and HCV infection.
The compounds of this invention are generally given as pharmaceutical compositions comprised of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and may contain conventional excipients. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are those conventionally known carriers having acceptable safety profiles. Compositions encompass all common solid and liquid forms including for example capsules, tablets, lozenges, and powders as well as liquid suspensions, syrups, elixers, and solutions. Compositions are made using common formulation techniques, and conventional excipients (such as binding and wetting agents) and vehicles (such as water and alcohols) are generally used for compositions. See, for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 17th edition, 1985.
Solid compositions are normally formulated in dosage units and compositions providing from about 1 to 1000 mg of the active ingredient per dose are preferred. Some examples of dosages are 1 mg, 10 mg, 100 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg, and 1000 mg. Generally, other agents will be present in a unit range similar to agents of that class used clinically. Typically, this is 0.25-1000 mg/unit.
Liquid compositions are usually in dosage unit ranges. Generally, the liquid composition will be in a unit dosage range of about 1-100 mg/mL. Some examples of dosages are 1 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL, 25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, and 100 mg/mL. Generally, other agents will be present in a unit range similar to agents of that class used clinically. Typically, this is 1-100 mg/mL.
The invention encompasses all conventional modes of administration; oral and parenteral methods are preferred. Generally, the dosing regimen will be similar to other agents used clinically. Typically, the daily dose will be about 1-100 mg/kg body weight daily. Generally, more compound is required orally and less parenterally. The specific dosing regimen, however, will be determined by a physician using sound medical judgment.
The invention also encompasses methods where the compound is given in combination therapy. That is, the compound can be used in conjunction with, but separately from, other agents useful in treating hepatitis and HCV infection. In these combination methods, the compound will generally be given in a daily dose of 1-100 mg/kg body weight daily in conjunction with other agents. The other agents generally will be given in the amounts used therapeutically. The specific dosing regimen, however, will be determined by a physician using sound medical judgment.
Some examples of compounds suitable for compositions and methods as part of the invention herein are listed in Table 1.










TABLE 1







Type of Inhibitor or



Brand Name
Physiological Class
Target
Source Company







NIM811

Cyclophilin Inhibitor
Novartis


Zadaxin

Immuno-modulator
Sciclone


Suvus

Methylene blue
Bioenvision


Actilon

TLR9 agonist
Coley


(CPG10101)


Batabulin (T67)
Anticancer
β-tubulin inhibitor
Tularik Inc., South





San Francisco, CA


ISIS 14803
Antiviral
antisense
ISIS





Pharmaceuticals Inc,





Carlsbad, CA/Elan





Phamaceuticals Inc.,





New York, NY


Summetrel
Antiviral
antiviral
Endo





Pharmaceuticals





Holdings Inc.,





Chadds Ford, PA


GS-9132 (ACH-
Antiviral
HCV Inhibitor
Achillion/Gilead


806)


Pyrazolopyrimidine
Antiviral
HCV Inhibitors
Arrow Therapeutics


compounds and


Ltd.


salts


From WO-


2005047288


26 May 2005


Levovirin
Antiviral
IMPDH inhibitor
Ribapharm Inc.,





Costa Mesa, CA


Merimepodib
Antiviral
IMPDH inhibitor
Vertex


(VX-497)


Pharmaceuticals





Inc., Cambridge,





MA


XTL-6865 (XTL-
Antiviral
monoclonal antibody
XTL


002)


Biopharmaceuticals





Ltd., Rehovot, Israel


Telaprevir
Antiviral
NS3 serine protease
Vertex


(VX-950, LY-

inhibitor
Pharmaceuticals


570310)


Inc., Cambridge,





MA/Eli Lilly and





Co. Inc.,





Indianapolis, IN


HCV-796
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Wyeth/Viropharma




Inhibitor


NM-283
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Idenix/Novartis




Inhibitor


GL-59728
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Gene Labs/




Inhibitor
Novartis


GL-60667
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Gene Labs/




Inhibitor
Novartis


2′C MeA
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Gilead




Inhibitor


PSI 6130
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Roche




Inhibitor


R1626
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Roche




Inhibitor


2′C Methyl
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Merck


adenosine

Inhibitor


JTK-003
Antiviral
RdRp inhibitor
Japan Tobacco Inc.,





Tokyo, Japan


Levovirin
Antiviral
ribavirin
ICN





Pharmaceuticals,





Costa Mesa, CA


Ribavirin
Antiviral
ribavirin
Schering-Plough





Corporation,





Kenilworth, NJ


Viramidine
Antiviral
Ribavirin Prodrug
Ribapharm Inc.,





Costa Mesa, CA


Heptazyme
Antiviral
ribozyme
Ribozyme





Pharmaceuticals





Inc., Boulder, CO


BILN-2061
Antiviral
serine protease
Boehringer




inhibitor
Ingelheim Pharma





KG, Ingelheim,





Germany


SCH 503034
Antiviral
serine protease
Schering Plough




inhibitor


Zadazim
Immune modulator
Immune modulator
SciClone





Pharmaceuticals





Inc., San Mateo, CA


Ceplene
Immunomodulator
immune modulator
Maxim





Pharmaceuticals





Inc., San Diego, CA


CellCept
Immunosuppressant
HCV IgG immuno-
F. Hoffmann-La




suppressant
Roche LTD, Basel,





Switzerland


Civacir
Immunosuppressant
HCV IgG immuno-
Nabi




suppressant
Biopharmaceuticals





Inc., Boca Raton, FL


Albuferon-α
Interferon
albumin IFN-α2b
Human Genome





Sciences Inc.,





Rockville, MD


Infergen A
Interferon
IFN
InterMune




alfacon-1
Pharmaceuticals





Inc., Brisbane, CA


Omega IFN
Interferon
IFN-ω
Intarcia Therapeutics


IFN-β and EMZ701
Interferon
IFN-β and EMZ701
Transition





Therapeutics Inc.,





Ontario, Canada


Rebif
Interferon
IFN-β1a
Serono, Geneva,





Switzerland


Roferon A
Interferon
IFN-α2a
F. Hoffmann-La





Roche LTD, Basel,





Switzerland


Intron A
Interferon
IFN-α2b
Schering-Plough





Corporation,





Kenilworth, NJ


Intron A and
Interferon
IFN-α2b/α1-thymosin
RegeneRx


Zadaxin


Biopharma. Inc.,





Bethesda, MD/





SciClone





Pharmaceuticals Inc,





San Mateo, CA


Rebetron
Interferon
IFN-α2b/ribavirin
Schering-Plough





Corporation,





Kenilworth, NJ


Actimmune
Interferon
INF-γ
InterMune Inc.,





Brisbane, CA


Interferon-β
Interferon
Interferon-β-1a
Serono


Multiferon
Interferon
Long lasting IFN
Viragen/





Valentis


Wellferon
Interferon
Lympho-blastoid IFN-
GlaxoSmithKline




αn1
plc, Uxbridge, UK


Omniferon
Interferon
natural IFN-α
Viragen Inc.,





Plantation, FL


Pegasys
Interferon
PEGylated IFN-α2a
F. Hoffmann-La





Roche LTD, Basel,





Switzerland


Pegasys and
Interferon
PEGylated IFN-α2a/
Maxim


Ceplene

immune modulator
Pharmaceuticals





Inc., San Diego, CA


Pegasys and
Interferon
PEGylated IFN-
F. Hoffmann-La


Ribavirin

α2a/ribavirin
Roche LTD, Basel,





Switzerland


PEG-Intron
Interferon
PEGylated IFN-α2b
Schering-Plough





Corporation,





Kenilworth, NJ


PEG-Intron/
Interferon
PEGylated IFN-
Schering-Plough


Ribavirin

α2b/ribavirin
Corporation,





Kenilworth, NJ


IP-501
Liver protection
antifibrotic
Indevus





Pharmaceuticals





Inc., Lexington, MA


IDN-6556
Liver protection
caspase inhibitor
Idun





Pharmaceuticals





Inc., San Diego, CA


ITMN-191 (R-7227)
Antiviral
serine protease
InterMune




inhibitor
Pharmaceuticals





Inc., Brisbane, CA


GL-59728
Antiviral
NS5B Replicase
Genelabs




Inhibitor


ANA-971
Antiviral
TLR-7 agonist
Anadys


Boceprevir
Antiviral
serine protease
Schering Plough




inhibitor


TMS-435
Antiviral
serine protease
Tibotec BVBA,




inhibitor
Mechelen, Belgium


BI-201335
Antiviral
serine protease
Boehringer




inhibitor
Ingelheim Pharma





KG, Ingelheim,





Germany


MK-7009
Antiviral
serine protease
Merck




inhibitor


PF-00868554
Antiviral
replicase inhibitor
Pfizer


ANA598
Antiviral
Non-Nucleoside
Anadys




NS5B Polymerase
Pharmaceuticals,




Inhibitor
Inc., San Diego, CA,





USA


IDX375
Antiviral
Non-Nucleoside
Idenix




Replicase Inhibitor
Pharmaceuticals,





Cambridge, MA,





USA


BILB 1941
Antiviral
NS5B Polymerase
Boehringer




Inhibitor
Ingelheim Canada





Ltd R&D, Laval,





QC, Canada


PSI-7851
Antiviral
Nucleoside
Pharmasset,




Polymerase Inhibitor
Princeton, NJ, USA


PSI-7977
Antiviral
Nucleotide NS5B
Pharmasset,




Polymerase Inhibitor
Princeton, NJ, USA


VCH-759
Antiviral
NS5B Polymerase
ViroChem Pharma




Inhibitor


VCH-916
Antiviral
NS5B Polymerase
ViroChem Pharma




Inhibitor


GS-9190
Antiviral
NS5B Polymerase
Gilead




Inhibitor


Peg-interferon
Antiviral
Interferon
ZymoGenetics/Bristol-


lambda


Myers Squibb









Synthesis Methods
The compounds may be made by methods available in the art, as well as those described below. Some reagents and intermediates are available in the art. Other reagents and intermediates can be made by methods available in the art using commercially available materials. The variables (e.g. numbered “R” substituents) used to describe the synthesis of the compounds are intended only to illustrate how to make these compounds, and are not to be confused with variables used in the claims or in other sections of the specification. Abbreviations used within the schemes generally follow conventions used in the art.
Abbreviations used in the schemes generally follow conventions used in the art. Chemical abbreviations used in the specification and examples are defined as follows: “NaHMDS” for sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide; “DMF” for N,N-dimethylformamide; “MeOH” for methanol; “NBS” for N-bromosuccinimide; “Ar” for aryl; “TFA” for trifluoroacetic acid; “LAH” for lithium aluminum hydride; “DMSO” for dimethylsulfoxide; “h” for hours; “rt” for room temperature or retention time (context will dictate); “min” for minutes; “EtOAc” for ethyl acetate; “THF” for tetrahydrofuran; “EDTA” for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; “Et2O” for diethyl ether; “DMAP” for 4-dimethylaminopyridine; “DCE” for 1,2-dichloroethane; “ACN” for acetonitrile; “DME” for 1,2-dimethoxyethane; “HOBt” for 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate; “DIEA” for diisopropylethylamine.
For the section of compounds in the 0000 series all Liquid Chromatography (LC) data were recorded on a Shimadzu LC-10AS or LC-20AS liquid chromotograph using a SPD-10AV or SPD-20A UV-Vis detector and Mass Spectrometry (MS) data were determined with a Micromass Platform for LC in electrospray mode.
HPLC Method (i.e., compound isolation). Compounds purified by preparative HPLC were diluted in methanol (1.2 mL) and purified using a Shimadzu LC-8A or LC-10A or Dionex APS-3000 or Waters AcquityTM automated preparative HPLC system.
EXAMPLES
Preparation of Compound 1001:




A mixture of 1H-pyrazole (54.2 mg), 5-(3-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-6-(N-ethylmethylsulfonamido)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methylbenzofuran-3-carboxamide (15 mg), K2CO3 (14.66 mg) and copper (3.37 mg) was heated to 140° C. for 6 hours. The mixture was diluted with DMF and filtered to removed solid. The solution of mixture was subjected to purification by preparative HPLC system.













1001








MS (M + H)+ Calcd.
614.2


MS (M + H)+ Observ.
614.2


Retention Time
1.35 min







LC Condition








Solvent A
90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Solvent B
10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Start % B
 50


Final % B
100


Gradient Time
2 min


Flow Rate
1 mL/min


Wavelength
220


Solvent Pair
Water-Methanol-TFA


Column
PHENOMENEX-LUNA 2.0 × 30 mm 3 um









Preparation of Compounds 1002 and 1003:





Compounds 1002 and 1003 were prepared via the same procedure towards compound 1001, using 1,2,3-triazole. LC condition for compounds 1002 and 1003 was the same for compound 100.











1002


















MS (M + H)+ Calcd.
615.2



MS (M + H)+ Observ.
615.2



Retention Time
1.18 min




















1003


















MS (M + H)+ Calcd.
615.2



MS (M + H)+ Observ.
615.2



Retention Time
1.20 min










Preparation of Compound 2001:





NaH (8.33 mg, 60%) was added into a solution of 5-(3-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-6-chloro-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methylfuro[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxamide (10 mg) and 3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole (28.4 mg) in DMF. The reaction was heated at 85° C. for 24 hour. The product was isolated by preparative HPLC system.













2001








MS (M + H)+ Calcd.
696.2


MS (M + H)+ Observ.
696.2


Retention Time
2.38 min







LC Condition








Solvent A
90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Solvent B
10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Start % B
 0


Final % B
100


Gradient Time
2 min


Flow Rate
1 mL/min


Wavelength
220


Solvent Pair
Water-Methanol-TFA


Column
PHENOMENEX-LUNA 2.0 × 30 mm 3 um









Preparation of Compound 2002:

Compound 2002 were prepared via the same procedure towards compound 2001, using 4-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole. LC condition for compound 2002 was the same for compound 2001.













2002








 








MS (M + H)+ Calcd.
696.2


MS (M + H)+ Observ.
696.2


Retention Time
 2.40 min









Preparation of Compound 3001:





A mixture of 1H-1,2,3-triazole (96 mg), 5-(3-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methyl-6-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)furo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxamide (15 mg), K2CO3 (11.48 mg) and copper (3.52 mg) was heated to 140° C. for 6 hours. The mixture was diluted with DMF and filtered to removed solid. The solution of mixture was subjected to purification by preparative HPLC system.













3001








MS (M + H)+ Calcd.
591.2


MS (M + H)+ Observ.
591.2


Retention Time
1.63 min







LC Condition








Solvent A
90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Solvent B
10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Start % B
 50


Final % B
100


Gradient Time
2 min


Flow Rate
1 mL/min


Wavelength
220


Solvent Pair
Water-Methanol-TFA


Column
PHENOMENEX-LUNA 2.0 × 30 mm 3 um









Compounds 3002-3010 were prepared via the same procedure towards compound 3001, using the corresponding heterocycles. LC condition for compounds 3002-3010 was the same for compound 3001.

















MS
MS
Retention




(M + H)+
(M + H)+
Time


Cmpd #
Structure
Calcd.
Observ.
(min)







3002




605.2
605.2
1.31


 


3003




605.2
605.2
1.58


 


3004




605.2
605.2
1.73


 


3005




590.2
590.2
1.79


 


3006




590.2
590.2
1.08


 


3007




591.2
591.2
1.64


 


3008




604.3
604.2
1.93


 


3009




604.3
604.2
1.17


 


3010




604.3
604.2
1.89









Preparation of Compound 4001:

Compound 4001 was prepared via the same procedure towards compound 3001, using pyridin-3-ol. LC condition for compound 4001 was the same for compound 3001.













4001








 








MS (M + H)+ Calcd.
617.2


MS (M + H)+ Observ.
617.2


Retention Time
 1.10 min







LC Condition








Solvent A
 90% Water −10% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Solvent B
 10% Water −90% Methanol-0.1% TFA


Start % B
 50


Final % B
100


Gradient Time
 2 min


Flow Rate
 1 mL/min


Wavelength
220


Solvent Pair
Water - Methanol-TFA


Column
PHENOMENEX-LUNA 2.0 × 30 mm 3 um









Biological Methods
The compound demonstrated activity against HCV NS5B as determined in the following HCV RdRp assays.
HCV NS5B RdRp cloning, expression, and purification. The cDNA encoding NS5B proteins of HCV genotype 1b (Con1), a genotype 1b variant with amino acid 316 mutated from cysteine to asparagine, and genotype 2a (JFH-1), were cloned into the pET21a expression vector. Each untagged protein was expressed with an 18 amino acid C-terminal truncation to enhance the solubility. The E. coli competent cell line BL21(DE3) was used for expression of the protein. Cultures were grown at 37° C. for  ̃4 hours until the cultures reached an optical density of 2.0 at 600 nm. The cultures were cooled to 20° C. and induced with 1 mM IPTG. Fresh ampicillin was added to a final concentration of 50 μg/mL and the cells were grown overnight at 20° C.
Cell pellets (3 L) were lysed for purification to yield 15-24 mgs of purified NS5B. The lysis buffer consisted of 20 mM Tris-HC1, pH 7.4, 500 mM NaCl, 0.5% triton X-100, 1 mM DTT, 1 mM EDTA, 20% glycerol, 0.5 mg/mL lysozyme, 10 mM MgCl2, 15 ug/mL deoxyribonuclease I, and Complete TM protease inhibitor tablets (Roche). After addition of the lysis buffer, frozen cell pellets were resuspended using a tissue homogenizer. To reduce the viscosity of the sample, aliquots of the lysate were sonicated on ice using a microtip attached to a Branson sonicator. The sonicated lysate was centrifuged at 100,000×g for 30 minutes at 4° C. and filtered through a 0.2 μm filter unit (Corning).
The protein was purified using two sequential chromatography steps: Heparin sepharose CL-6B and polyU sepharose 4B. The chromatography buffers were identical to the lysis buffer but contained no lysozyme, deoxyribonuclease I, MgCl2 or protease inhibitor and the NaCl concentration of the buffer was adjusted according to the requirements for charging the protein onto the column. Each column was eluted with a NaCl gradient which varied in length from 5-50 column volumes depending on the column type. After the final chromatography step, the resulting purity of the enzyme is >90% based on SDS-PAGE analysis. The enzyme was aliquoted and stored at −80° C.
HCV NS5B RdRp enzyme assay. An on-bead solid phase homogeneous assay was used in a 384-well format to assess NS5B inhibitors (WangY-K, Rigat K, Roberts S, and Gao M (2006) Anal Biochem, 359: 106-111). The biotinylated oligo dT12 primer was captured on streptavidin-coupled imaging beads (GE, RPNQ0261) by mixing primer and beads in 1× buffer and incubating at room temperature for three hours. Unbound primer was removed after centrifugation. The primer-bound beads were resuspended in 3× reaction mix (20 mM Hepes buffer, pH 7.5, dT primer coupled beads, poly A template, 3H-UTP, and RNAse inhibitor (Promega N2515)). Compounds were serially diluted 1:3 in DMSO and aliquoted into assay plates. Equal volumes (5 μL) of water, 3× reaction mix, and enzyme in 3× assay buffer (60 mM Hepes buffer, pH 7.5, 7.5 mM MgCl2, 7.5 mM KCl, 3 mM DTT, 0.03 mg/mL BSA, 6% glycerol) were added to the diluted compound on the assay plate. Final concentration of components in 384-well assay: 0.36 nM template, 15 nM primer, 0.29 μM3H-UTP (0.3 μCi), 1.6 U/μL RNAse inhibitor, 7 nM NS5B enzyme, 0.01 mg/mL BSA, 1 mM DTT, and 0.33 μg/μL beads, 20 mM Hepes buffer, pH 7.5, 2.5 mM MgCl2, 2.5 mM KCl, and 0.1% DMSO.
Reactions were allowed to proceed for 24 hours at 30° C. and terminated by the addition of 50 mM EDTA (5 μL). After incubating for at least 15 minutes, plates were read on an Amersham LEADseeker multimodality imaging system.
IC50 values for compounds were determined using ten different [I]. IC50 values were calculated from the inhibition using the four-parameter logistic formula y=A+ ((B−A)/(1+((C/x)^D))), where A and B denote minimal and maximal % inhibition, respectively, C is the IC50, D is hill slope and x represents compound concentration.
Cell lines. The cell lines used to evaluate compounds consist of a human hepatocyte derived cell line (Huh-7) that constitutively expresses a genotype 1b (Con-1) HCV replicon or a genotype 1b (Con-1) HCV replicon with an asparagine replacing the cysteine at amino acid 316, or a genotype 2a (JFH-1) replicon, containing a Renilla luciferase reporter gene. These cells were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM) containing 10% FBS, 100 U/mL penicillin/streptomycin and 1.0 mg/mL G418.
HCV replicon luciferase assay. To evaluate compound efficacy, titrated compounds were transferred to sterile 384-well tissue culture treated plates, and the plates were seeded with HCV replicon cells (50 μL at a density of 2.4×103 cells/well) in DMEM containing 4% FBS (final DMSO concentration at 0.5%). After 3 days incubation at 37° C., cells were analyzed for Renilla Luciferase activity using the EnduRen substrate (Promega cat #E6485) according to the manufacturer's directions. Briefly, the EnduRen substrate was diluted in DMEM and then added to the plates to a final concentration of 7.5 μM. The plates were incubated for at least 1 h at 37° C. then read on a Viewlux Imager (PerkinElmer) using a luminescence program. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) was calculated using the four-parameter logistic formula noted above.
To assess cytotoxicity of compounds, Cell Titer-Blue (Promega) was added to the EnduRen-containing plates and incubated for at least 4 hrs at 37° C. The fluorescence signal from each well was read using a Viewlux Imager. All CC50 values were calculated using the four-parameter logistic formula.
Compound EC50 data is expressed as A:<100 nM; B=100-1000 nM; C>1000 nM). Representative data for compounds are reported in Table 2.









TABLE 2







EC50 (uM)


Cmpd #
Structure
lb







1001




0.017 A


 


1002




0.069 A


 


1003




A


 


2001




B


 


2002




C


 


3001




0.035 A


 


3002




C


 


3003




3.32  C


 


3004




B


 


3006




B


 


3007




B


 


3008




C


 


3009




C


 


3010




0.28  B


 


4001




B









It will be evident to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing illustrative examples, and that it can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof. It is therefore desired that the examples be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing examples, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

## Claims

1. A compound of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:



wherein
m is 0 or 1;
X is N or C—R10;
R1 is methyl;
R2 is Ar1;
Ar1 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR101, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR102R103, COOR101, CONR102R103, S(O)2R101, S(O)2NR102R103, and NR101CONR102R103;
R101 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
R102, R103 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
R102 and R103 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R102 and R103;
R3 is hydrogen, halo, or alkyl;
R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxycycloalkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyloxy, alkoxyalkyloxy, COOR201 and CON(R202)(R203);
R201 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
R202, R203 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl alkynyl, cyclic ether, cyclic amine, lactame, fused bicyclic alkyl, bridged bicyclic alkyl, spiro bicyclic alkyl, fused bicyclic ether, bridged bicyclic ether, spiro bicyclic ether, fused bicyclic amine, bridged bicyclic amine, and spiro bicyclic amine, with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of halo, OH, OR104, NH2, NR105R106, COOR104, CONR105R106, S(O)2R104, S(O)2NR105R106, NR104CONR105R106, OR104CONR105R106, C(═NR107)NR105R106, NR108C(═NR107)NR105R106, haloalkoxy, Ar2, O—Ar2, and NR105—Ar2; or
R202 and R203 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R202 and R203;
R202 and R203 can also form bicyclic or tricyclic rings by joining multiple atoms from each of R202 and R203;
R104 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
R105, R106 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
R105 and R106 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R105 and R106;
R107, R108 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
R107 and R108 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R107 and R108;
Ar2 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR204, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR205R206, COOR204, CONR205R206, S(O)2R204, S(O)2NR205R206, and NR204CONR205R206;
R204 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
R205, R206 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
R205 and R206 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R205 and R206;
R9 is selected from the group of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, Ar3 and NR301R302;
R301 is selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, (cycloalkyl)alkyl, benzyl, alkylcarbonyl, haloalkyl carbonyl, phenyl carbonyl, (alkoxyphenyl)carbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (alkoxyphenyl)sulfonyl, and (haloalkoxyphenyl)sulfonyl;
R302 is hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkoxyalkyl; or
R301 and R302 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached is oxazolidinonyl or dioxothiazinyl;
Ar3 is phenyl, 5-membered heteroaryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, and is substituted with 0-3 substituents selected from the group of cyano, halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, OH, OR303, haloalkoxy, NH2, NR304R305, COOR303, CONR304R305, S(O)2R303, S(O)2NR304R305, and NR303CONR304R305;
R303 is hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy;
R304, R305 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or cycloalkyl with 0-3 substituents selected from halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy; or
R304 and R305 can form a ring by joining two atoms, one from each of R304 and R305;
R10 is hydrogen, alkyl, halo, N(R401)(R402), or alkylsulfonyl;
R401 and R402 are each independently selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylsulfonyl, or alkylsulfonylalkyl;
or N(R401)(R402) taken together is azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, or piperazinyl, and is substituted with 0-2 substituents selected from alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and hydroxy.

2. A compound of claim 1 wherein m=0.

3. A compound of claim 2 wherein R1 is alkyl.

4. A compound of claim 3 wherein R5 is CON(R202)(R203).

5. A compound of claim 1 wherein R202 and R203 are hydrogen or alkyl.

6. A compound of claim 1 wherein R2 is a 5-membered heteroaryl group.

7. A compound of claim 6 wherein R2 has 2 to 3 nitrogens.

8. A compound of claim 1 wherein R9 is selected from the group of haloalkyl, NR301, R302 and Ar3.

9. A compound of claim 8 wherein haloalkyl is 1-3 fluoroalkyl.

10. A compound of claim 9 wherein said alkyl is propyl.

11. A compound of claim 1 wherein R10 is hydrogen.

12. A compound, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which is selected from the group of:

13. A compound, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which is selected from the group of:

14. A composition comprising a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, and/or diluent.

15. A composition comprising a compound of claim 12 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, and/or diluent.

16. A composition comprising a compound of claim 13 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, and/or diluent.

17. A compound as claimed in claim 8, wherein R9 is NR301, and R301 is selected from alkyl and alkylsulfonyl.