Pyridine hydroxamic acids are specific anti-HCV agents affecting HDAC6.

Recently we reported benzohydroxamic acids (BHAs) as potent and selective inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicon propagation. In this work 12 pyridine hydroxamic acids (PHAs) were synthesized and tested in full-genome replicon assay. It was found that PHAs possessed very similar anti-HCV properties compared to BHAs. Both classes of hydroxamic acids caused hyperacetylation of α-tubulin pointing to inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) as part of their antiviral activity. The tested compounds did not inhibit the growth of poliovirus, displaying high selectivity against HCV.