Design, Synthesis, and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Bisamide Derivatives of Amphotericin B with Potent Efficacy and Low Toxicity

J Med Chem. 2022 Jul 14;65(13):8897-8913. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02227. Epub 2022 Jul 4.

Abstract

Amphotericin B (AMB, 1) is the most powerful antibiotic in treating potentially life-threatening invasive fungal infections (IFIs), though severe toxicity derived from self-aggregation greatly limits its clinical application. Herein, we applied a bisamidation strategy at the C16-COOH and C3'-NH2 to improve the therapeutic properties by suppressing self-aggregation. It was found that basic amino groups at the residue of C16 amide were beneficial to activity, while lipophilic fragments contributed to toxicity reduction. Additionally, N-methyl-amino acetyl and amino acetyl moieties at C3' amide could help keep the fungistatic effectiveness. The modification work culminated in the discovery of 36 (ED50 = 0.21 mg/kg), which exerted a 1.5-fold stronger antifungal efficacy than amphamide, the optimal derivative theretofore, in mice, low self-aggregation propensity, and thus low acute toxicity. With the improvement in therapeutic index and good PK profile, 36 is promising for further development as a second-generation polyene antifungal agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / toxicity
  • Amphotericin B* / therapeutic use
  • Amphotericin B* / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents* / toxicity
  • Mice
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B