Substituted indole derivatives and methods of use thereof

1. A compound having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

R 1 is —CH 2 —;

R 2 is —C(O)OH or —C(O)Oalkyl;

R 3 is:

R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are each, independently, H, alkyl, —[C(R 12 ) 2 ] q -cycloalkyl, —[C(R 12 ) 2 ] q -heterocycloalkyl, haloalkyl, halo, —OH, —OR 9 or —N(R 9 ) 2 ;

each occurrence of R 9 is independently H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, haloalkyl or hydroxyalkyl;

R 10 is:

each occurrence of R 12 is independently H, halo, —N(alkyl) 2 , —OH, —O-alkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl, or two R 12 groups, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, join to form a cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl or C═O group;

R 13 is H, F, Br or Cl;

R 14 represents up to 4 optional and additional substituents, each independently selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, CF 3 , —CN, halo, —O-alkyl, —O-haloalkyl, —NHSO 2 -alkyl, —NO 2 , —C(O)NH 2 , —C(O)NH-alkyl, —C(O)OH, —OH, —NH 2 , —SO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 NH-alkyl, —S-alkyl, —CH 2 NH 2 , —CH 2 OH, —SO 2 NH 2 , —NHC(O)-alkyl, —C(O)O-alkyl, —C(O)-heterocycloalkyl or heteroaryl;

each occurrence of R 15 is independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, CF 3 , —CN, halo, —O-alkyl, —O-haloalkyl, —NHSO 2 -alkyl, —NO 2 , —C(O)NH 2 , —C(O)NH-alkyl, —C(O)OH, —OH, —NH 2 , —SO 2 -alkyl, —SO 2 NH-alkyl, —S-alkyl, —CH 2 NH 2 , —CH 2 OH, —SO 2 NH 2 , —NHC(O)-alkyl, —C(O)O-alkyl, —C(O)-heterocycloalkyl or heteroaryl;

each occurrence of q is independently an integer ranging from 0 to 4;

and

represents a pyridyl group, wherein the ring nitrogen atom can be at any of the five unsubstituted ring atom positions.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 10 is:

wherein R 13 is Cl and R 14 represents up to 4 optional and additional substituents, each independently selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl or halo.

3. The compound of claim 2 , wherein R 4 and R 7 are each H and R 5 and R 6 are each independently H, alkyl, halo or haloalkyl.

4. A compound having the structure:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5. The compound of claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is choline.

6. A composition comprising at least one compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

7. A method for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a patient, the method comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising administering to the patient at least one antiviral agent, wherein the antiviral agent is selected from an HCV polymerase inhibitor, an interferon, a nucleoside, a viral replication inhibitor, an antisense agent, a therapeutic vaccine, a viral protease inhibitor, a virion production inhibitor, and an antibody therapy (monoclonal or polyclonal).

9. A compound having the structure:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10. The compound of claim 9 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is choline.

11. A composition comprising the compound of claim 9 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

12. A method for treating HCV infection in a patient, the method comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of the compound of claim 9 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.