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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Imaging Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mice with Reporter Enzyme Fluorescence
Published on: February 26, 2018
Discovery of a cofactor-independent inhibitor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis InhA
Yi Xia1, Yasheen Zhou1, David S Carter1
1Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Abstract:
New antitubercular agents are needed to combat the spread of multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The frontline antitubercular drug isoniazid (INH) targets the mycobacterial enoyl-ACP reductase, InhA. Resistance to INH is predominantly through mutations affecting the prodrug-activating enzyme KatG. Here, we report the identification of the diazaborines as a new class of direct InhA inhibitors. The lead compound, AN12855, exhibited in vitro bactericidal activity against replicating bacteria and was active against several drug-resistant clinical isolates. Biophysical and structural investigations revealed that AN12855 binds to and inhibits the substrate-binding site of InhA in a cofactor-independent manner. AN12855 showed good drug exposure after i.v. and oral delivery, with 53% oral bioavailability. Delivered orally, AN12855 exhibited dose-dependent efficacy in both an acute and chronic murine model of tuberculosis infection that was comparable with INH. Combined, AN12855 is a promising candidate for the development of new antitubercular agents.
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