Description
PF-07321332 is an oral COVID-19 antiviral clinical candidate. By inhibiting the main protease, PF-07321332 prevents the virus from cleaving long protein chains into the parts it needs to reproduce itself.
Uses
PF-07321332 (nirmatrelvir) is an oral antiviral clinical lead. It is a covalent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (main protease, 3CLpro) that binds to cysteine145 within the enzyme's catalytic domain. Mpro is essential for coronavirus replication. Inhibiting Mpro actvity blocks replication at an early stage in the virus' life cycle. Due to structural similarities between the Mpro's of other coronavirusus, PF-07321332 offers the potential of pan-coronavirus activity. In vitro it is suggested to inhibit replication of CoV-2 variants including delta and omicron.
Definition
ChEBI: Nirmatrelvir is an azabicyclohexane that is (1R,5S)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane substituted by {(1S)-1-cyano-2-[(3S)-2-oxopyrrolidin-3-yl]ethyl}aminoacyl, 3-methyl-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-L-valinamide, methyl and methyl groups at positions 2S, 3, 6 and 6, respectively. It is the first orally administered inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease developed by Pfizer and used in combination with ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19. It has a role as an EC 3.4.22.69 (SARS coronavirus main proteinase) inhibitor and an anticoronaviral agent. It is a nitrile, a member of pyrrolidin-2-ones, a secondary carboxamide, a pyrrolidinecarboxamide, a tertiary carboxamide, an organofluorine compound and an azabicyclohexane.
Biological Activity
PF-07321332 is an orally bioavailable 3C-like protease (3CLPRO) inhibitor. This drug is being investigated for safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics before moving on to studies of efficacy in the treatment or prophylaxis of COVID-19. 3CLPRO is responsible for cleaving polyproteins 1a and 1ab of SARS-CoV-2.
Structure and conformation
PF-07321332 is structurally similar to ML1000. PF-07321332's chemical structure was formally disclosed in Owen et al's Science article in November 2021, and this confirmed the structure that was obtained from the ACS meeting.