Exploring the positional attachment of glycopeptide/beta-lactam heterodimers

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2008 Oct;61(10):603-14. doi: 10.1038/ja.2008.80.

Abstract

Further investigations towards novel glycopeptide/beta-lactam heterodimers are reported. Employing a multivalent approach to drug discovery, vancomycin and cephalosporin synthons, 4, 2, 5 and 10, 18, 25 respectively, were chemically linked to yield heterodimer antibiotics. These novel compounds were designed to inhibit Gram-positive bacterial cell wall biosynthesis by simultaneously targeting the principal cellular targets of both glycopeptides and beta-lactams. The positional attachment of both the vancomycin and the cephalosporin central cores has been explored and the SAR is reported. This novel class of bifunctional antibiotics 28-36 all displayed remarkable potency against a wide range of Gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A subset of compounds, 29, 31 and 35 demonstrated excellent bactericidal activity against MRSA (ATCC 33591) and 31 and 35 also exhibited superb in vivo efficacy in a mouse model of MRSA infection. As a result of this work compound 35 was selected as a clinical candidate, TD-1792.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cephalosporins / chemical synthesis*
  • Cephalosporins / chemistry
  • Cephalosporins / pharmacology*
  • Dimerization
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Female
  • Glycopeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Glycopeptides / chemistry
  • Glycopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • beta-Lactams / chemical synthesis*
  • beta-Lactams / chemistry
  • beta-Lactams / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cephalosporins
  • Glycopeptides
  • TD 1792
  • beta-Lactams