The anti-hepatitis B virus activities, cytotoxicities, and anabolic profiles of the (-) and (+) enantiomers of cis-5-fluoro-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]cytosine.

The anti-hepatitis B (anti-HBV) activities of the (-) and (+) enantiomers of cis-5-fluoro-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]cytosine (2'-deoxy-3'-thia-5-fluorocytosine [FTC]) were studied by using an HBV-transfected cell line (HepG2 derivative 2.2.15, subclone P5A). The (-) isomer was found to be a potent inhibitor of viral replication, with an apparent 50% inhibitory concentration of 10 nM, while the (+) isomer was found to be considerably less active. Both isomers showed minimal toxicity to HepG2 cells (50% inhibitory concentration, > 200 microM) and showed minimal toxicity in the human bone marrow progenitor cell assay. In accord with the cellular antiviral activity data, the 5'-triphosphate of (-)-FTC inhibited viral DNA synthesis in an endogenous HBV DNA polymerase assay, while the 5'-triphosphate of the (+) isomer was inactive. Unphosphorylated (-)-FTC did not inhibit product formation in the endogenous assay, suggesting that the antiviral activity of the compound is dependent on anabolism to the 5'-triphosphate. Both (-)- and (+)-FTC were anabolized to the corresponding 5'-triphosphates in chronically HBV-infected HepG2 cells. The rate of accumulation and the steady-state concentration of the 5'-triphosphate of (-)-FTC were greater. Also, (-)-FTC was not a substrate for cytidine deaminase and, therefore, is not subject to deamination and conversion to an inactive uridine analog. The (+) isomer is, however, a good substrate for cytidine deaminase.