Advanced Life Sciences, Inc.

Medichem Research, Inc.

Sarawak Medichem Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Yuh-Meei Lin

Michael T Flavin

David E Zembower

Ralph Schure

Gen-Xian Zhao

Ze-Qi Xu

Ralph M Schure

Geng-Xian Zhao

Michael J Williams

Heping Zhang

Tuah R Jenta

Herbert M Anderson

The present invention relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the prevention or treatment of mycobacterium infections. The compounds are naturally occurring and synthetic biflavonoids, flavonoids, chalcones and chalcone like compounds. The compounds were screened for anti-mycobacterium activity. Of the compounds showing anti-mycobacterium activity, eight were identified as particularly potent, exhibiting greater than 90% inhibition of the growth of Mtb at a concentration of 12.5 &mgr;g/mL. The actual minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), defined as the lowest concentration inhibiting 99% of the inoculum, for the preferred compounds ranged from 6.8 to 48.3 &mgr;M.

Beta-fluoroethyl thiourea compounds and use

Substantially purified antiviral biflavanoids robustaflavone, hinokiflavone, amentoflavone, agathisflavone, volkensiflavone, morelloflavone, rhusflavanone, succedaneaflavanone, GB-1a, and GB-2a are provided. Antiviral biflavanoid derivatives and salt forms thereof, e.g., robustaflavone tetrasulfate potassium salt, and methods for preparing the same are also disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions which include the antiviral biflavanoids, derivatives or salts thereof are also provided alone or in combination with at least one antiviral agent such as 3TC. Also disclosed is an improved method for obtaining substantially pure robustaflavone from plant material. The biflavanoid compounds, derivatives or salts thereof of the invention may be used in a method for treating and/or preventing viral infections caused by viral agents such as influenza, e.g., influenza A and B; hepatitis, e.g., hepatitis B; human immunodeficiency virus, e.g., HIV-1; Herpes viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2); Varicella Zoster virus (VZV); and measles. For instance, semi-synthetic hexa-O-acetate and hexa-O-methyl ether derivatives of robustaflavone have been found to be effective in a method for treating or preventing hepatitis B viral infections. Compositions which include these robustaflavone derivatives along with methods for preparing and using the same are also provided. These compositions may be used alone or in combination with at least one antiviral agent such as 3TC.

Biflavanoids and derivatives thereof as antiviral agents

Robustaflavone, intermediates and analogues thereof and a method for synthesizing the same are provided. The method involves constructing apigenin ethers containing functionalities at the 6- and 3&prime;-positions which could be cross-coupled using transition metal catalysis. The method also involves development of a regioselective iodination of an apigenin derivative at the 6-position, formation of an apigenin 3&prime;-boronate using a palladium-catalyzed exchange of the corresponding 3&prime;-iodide with a diboron reagent. Finally, Suzuki coupling to form the sterically congested 6-3&prime;&Prime; biaryl bond of robustaflavone provides access to the desired biflavanoid system. Robustaflavone intermediates and analogues may be used to prepare analogues of other biflavanoids such as hinokifavone, rhusflavone and succedaneaflavone.

Robustaflavone, intermediates and analogues and method for preparation thereof

An efficient and scalable method is reported for the isolation of costatolide (2), an HIV-1-specific nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), from the latex of Calophyllum plants such as C. teysmannii var. inophylloide. An overall yield of 10.6% of costatolide, with a purity of 96%, was obtained by repetitive recrystallization of the latex from a single organic solvent after the oily material was removed by treatment with hexane. A second major component of the latex, soulattrolide (3), another HIV-1 NNRTI, was also isolated. Both compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses and their in vitro anti-HIV activities were also confirmed. The results suggest that sufficient supplies of costatolide can be obtained in a relatively low-cost manner from natural sources.

Scalable method for the isolation of anti-HIV agents from the tropical

Substantially purified antiviral biflavanoids robustaflavone, hinokiflavone, amentoflavone, agathisflavone, volkensiflavone, morelloflavone, rhusflavanone, succedaneaflavanone, GB-1a, and GB-2a are provided. Antiviral biflavanoid derivatives and salt forms thereof, e.g., robustaflavone tetrasulfate potassium salt, and methods for preparing the same are also disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions which include the antiviral biflavanoids, derivatives or salts thereof are also provided. Also disclosed is an improved method for obtaining substantially pure robustaflavone from plant material. The biflavanoid compounds, derivatives or salts thereof of the invention may be used in a method for treating and/or preventing viral infections caused by viral agents such as influenza, e.g., influenza A and B; hepatitis, e.g., hepatitis B; human immunodeficiency virus, e.g., HIV-1; Herpes viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2); Varicella Zoster virus (VZV); and measles.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Yuh-Meei Lin