From Naproxen Repurposing to Naproxen Analogues and Their Antiviral Activity against Influenza A Virus.
Dilly S, Fotso Fotso A, Lejal N, Zedda G, Chebbo M, Rahman F, Companys S, Bertrand HC, Vidic J, Noiray M, Alessi MC, Tarus B, Quideau S, Riteau B, Slama-Schwok A.
The nucleoprotein (NP) of influenza A virus (IAV) required for IAV replication is a promising target for new antivirals. We previously identified by in silico screening naproxen being a dual inhibitor of NP and cyclooxygenase COX2, thus combining antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the recently shown strong COX2 antiviral potential makes COX2 inhibition undesirable. Here we designed and synthesized two new series of naproxen analogues called derivatives 2, 3, and 4 targeting highly conserved residues of the RNA binding groove, stabilizing NP monomer without inhibiting COX2. Derivative 2 presented improved antiviral effects in infected cells compared to that of naproxen and afforded a total protection of mice against a lethal viral challenge. Derivative 4 also protected infected cells challenged with circulating 2009-pandemic and oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 virus. This improved antiviral effect likely results from derivatives 2 and 4 inhibiting NP-RNA and NP-polymerase acidic subunit PA N-terminal interactions.