| abstract |
Macrocyclic proline-derived HCV serine protease inhibitor. The invention discloses a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof: the compound of formula I inhibits the activity of serine protease, especially the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Thus, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above compound for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The present invention also relates to methods of treating HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the present invention. |