Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of a bile acid analog of cosalane

Cosalane is a novel anti-HIV agent that inhibits the attachment of gp120 to CD4. The therapeutic potential of cosalane is limited by poor oral absorpt ion. In an attempt to target the ileal bile acid transporter and thus facil itate oral bioavailability, a cosalane analog was synthesized in which the disalicylmethane pharmacophore is attached to a bile acid through a linker chain appended to C-17 of the steroid nucleus. The resulting bile acid anal og of cosalane, retained antiviral activity vs. HIV-1(IIIB) and HIV-2(ROD) in MT-4 cells, but was less potent than cosalane. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.