Discovery of Benzyl Tetraphosphonate Derivative as Inhibitor of Human Factor Xia

The inhibition of factor XIa (FXIa) is a trending paradigm for the development of new generations of anticoagulants without a substantial risk of bleeding. In this report, we present the discovery of a benzyl tetra‐phosphonate derivative as a potent and selective inhibitor of human FXIa. Biochemical screening of four phosphonate/phosphate derivatives has led to the identification of the molecule that inhibited human FXIa with an IC(50) value of ∼7.4 μM and a submaximal efficacy of ∼68 %. The inhibitor was at least 14‐fold more selective to FXIa over thrombin, factor IXa, factor Xa, and factor XIIIa. It also inhibited FXIa‐mediated activation of factor IX and prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time of human plasma. In Michaelis‐Menten kinetics experiment, inhibitor 1 reduced the V(MAX) of FXIa hydrolysis of a chromogenic substrate without significantly affecting its K(M) suggesting an allosteric mechanism of inhibition. The inhibitor also disrupted the formation of FXIa – antithrombin complex and inhibited thrombin‐mediated and factor XIIa‐mediated formation of FXIa from its zymogen factor XI. Inhibitor 1 has been proposed to bind to or near the heparin/polyphosphate‐binding site in the catalytic domain of FXIa. Overall, inhibitor 1 is the first benzyl tetraphosphonate small molecule that allosterically inhibits human FXIa, blocks its physiological function, and prevents its zymogen activation by other clotting factors under in vitro conditions. Thus, we put forward benzyl tetra‐phosphonate 1 as a novel lead inhibitor of human FXIa to guide future efforts in the development of allosteric anticoagulants.