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Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Novel symmetrical phenylenediamines as potential anti-hepatitis C virus agents
Marcella Bassetto1, Salvatore Ferla1, Pieter Leyssen2
11 Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff, UK.
Background:
Despite the great progress made in the last 10 years, alternative strategies might help improving definitive treatment options against hepatitis C virus infection.
Methods:
With the aim of identifying novel inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus-1b replication targeting the viral NS3 helicase, the structures of previously reported symmetrical inhibitors of this enzyme were rationally modified, and according to docking-based studies, four novel scaffolds were selected for synthesis and evaluation in the hepatitis C virus-1b subgenomic replicon assay.
Results:
Among the newly designed compounds, one new structural family was found to inhibit the hepatitis C virus-1b replication in the micromolar range. This scaffold was chosen for further exploration and different novel analogues were synthesised and evaluated.
Conclusions:
Different new inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus genotype 1b replication were identified. Some of the new compounds show mild inhibition of the NS3 helicase enzyme.
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