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Mebendazole (MBZ) was developed as a broad-spectrum anthelmintic but has recently shown efficacy as an anticancer agent. The use of MBZ for cancer, however, is challenging due to its poor solubility leading to poor bioavailability. Herein, we developed a prodrug approach with various N-linked promoieties including acyloxymethyl, aminoacyloxymethyl, and substituted phosphonooxymethyl in attempt to improve these characteristics. Compound 12, containing an (((((isopropoxycarbonyl)oxy)methoxy)phosphoryl)oxy)methyl promoiety, showed a >10 000-fold improvement in aqueous solubility. When evaluated in mice, 12 displayed a 2.2-fold higher plasma AUC0-t and a 1.7-fold improvement in brain AUC0-t with a calculated oral bioavailability of 52%, as compared to 24% for MBZ-polymorph C (MBZ-C), the most bioavailable polymorph. In dogs, 12 showed a 3.8-fold higher plasma AUC0-t with oral bioavailability of 41% compared to 11% for MBZ-C. In summary, we have identified a prodrug of MBZ with better physicochemical properties and enhanced bioavailability in both mice and dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) that contain a 6-oxopurine base are good inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Plasmodium vivax (Pv) 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferases (PRTs). Chemical modifications based on the crystal structure of 2-(phosphonoethoxy)ethylguanine (PEEG) in complex with human HGPRT have led to the design of new ANPs. These novel compounds contain a second phosphonate group attached to the ANP scaffold. {[(2-[(Guanine-9H-yl)methyl]propane-1,3-diyl)bis(oxy)]bis(methylene)}diphosphonic acid (compound 17) exhibited a Ki value of 30 nM for human HGPRT and 70 nM for Pf HGXPRT. The crystal structure of this compound in complex with human HGPRT shows that it fills or partially fills three critical locations in the active site: the binding sites of the purine base, the 5'-phosphate group, and pyrophosphate. This is the first HG(X)PRT inhibitor that has been able to achieve this result. Prodrugs have been synthesized resulting in IC50 values as low as 3.8 μM for Pf grown in cell culture, up to 25-fold lower compared to the parent compounds.