Antipoxvirus Activity Evaluation of Optimized Corroles Based on Development of Autofluorescent ANCHOR Myxoma Virus

A series of 43 antiviral corrole-based molecules have been tested on myxoma virus (Lausanne-like T1MYXV strain). An autofluorescent MYXV, with an ANCHOR cassette, has been used for the studies. A₂B-fluorocorroles display various toxicities, from 40 being very toxic (CC₅₀ = 1.7 μM) to nontoxic 38 (CC₅₀ > 50 μM), whereas A₃-fluorocorroles, with one to three fluorine atoms, are not toxic (with the exception of corroles 9, 10, and 22). In vitro, these compounds show a good selectivity index when used alone. Corrole 35 seems to be the most promising compound, which displays a high selectivity index with the lowest IC₅₀. Interestingly, this "Hit" corrole is easy to synthesize in a two-step reaction. Upscaling production up to 25 g has been carried out for in vivo tests. In vivo studies on New Zealand white rabbits infected with myxoma virus show that symptoms are delayed and animal weight is increased upon treatment, while no acute toxicity of the corrole molecule was detected.