Viral enzyme activated prototoxophores and use of same to treat viral infections
OwnerBrian E. Cathers, Saskia T.C. Neuteboon +1inventors
InventorsBrian E. Cathers, Saskia T.C. Neuteboon, H. Michael Shepard
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Abstract
A synthetic prototoxophore, which is a relatively non-toxic compound that includes a toxin moiety and a substrate domain for a viral enzyme, is provided. Upon binding of a viral enzyme to the substrate domain, the catalytic activity of the viral enzyme converts the prototoxophore to a toxophore, which is toxic to a cell. Thus, a toxophore also is provided, as is a pharmaceutical composition containing a prototoxophore, and kits containing a prototoxophore. Also provided are methods of using a prototoxophore to reduce or inhibit viral infectivity, and methods of using a prototoxophore to ameliorate the severity of a viral infection in an individual.
Claims22
A synthetic viral prototoxophore, comprising a toxin moiety operatively incorporated into a substrate domain specific for a viral enzyme, bound and modified by said viral enzyme, thereby converting the prototoxophore to a toxophore.
A toxophore comprising the product of the structure of the product shown in FIG. 4, or compound 5759 or 5760 in Table I.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.