Discovery of the SARS-CoV‑2 Papain-Like Protease Inhibitor MR1–114: From Structure-Based Design to In Vivo Antiviral Efficacy

The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) is a critical
target
for antiviral intervention. Here, we report the discovery of MR1–114
(compound 15), a potent, noncovalent PLpro inhibitor.
Guided by structure-based design, we incorporated a strategic alkyne
linker hypothesized to access the cryptic Val70Ub pocket,
a modification that proved critical for driving cellular potency.
Multiparameter optimization yielded MR1–114, which displays
a desirable ADME profile characterized by high solubility, permeability,
and hepatocyte stability, translating to high oral bioavailability
in mice and rats. Notably, the compound exhibits preferential lung
enrichment in mice and rats while maintaining broad-spectrum activity
against variants, including Delta and Omicron BA.5 with nanomolar
potency in vitro. In the K18-hACE2 mouse model, oral
administration of MR1–114 matched the therapeutic efficacy
of nirmatrelvir, significantly suppressing pulmonary viral replication
and preventing disease-associated weight loss.