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AIDSinfo • Fact Sheet

Approved Medications to Treat HIV Infection

Part of HIV and Its Treatment: What You Should Know -- Health Information for Patients

December 2008

Anti-HIV (also called antiretroviral) medications are used to control the reproduction of the virus and to slow the progression of HIV-related disease. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is the recommended treatment for HIV infection. HAART combines three or more anti-HIV medications in a daily regimen. Anti-HIV medications do not cure HIV infection, and individuals taking these medications can still transmit HIV to others. Anti-HIV medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fall into five classes:


ClassGeneric NameBrand & Other NamesManufacturerFDA Approval Date
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
NNRTIs bind to and disable reverse transcriptase, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. DelavirdineRescriptor, DLVPfizerApril 4, 1997
EfavirenzSustiva, EFVBristol-Myers SquibbSept. 17, 1998
EtravirineIntelence, Celsentri, TMC125, ETRTibotecJan. 18, 2008
NevirapineViramune, NVPBoehringer IngelheimJune 21, 1996
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
NRTIs are faulty versions of building blocks that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. When HIV uses an NRTI instead of a normal building block, reproduction of the virus is stalled. AbacavirZiagen, ABCGlaxoSmithKlineDec. 17, 1998
Abacavir, LamivudineEpzicomGlaxoSmithKlineAug. 2, 2004
Abacavir, Lamivudine, ZidovudineTrizivirGlaxoSmithKlineNov. 14, 2000
DidanosineVidex, ddI, Videx ECBristol-Myers SquibbOct. 9, 1991
Oct. 31, 2000 (EC)
EmtricitabineEmtriva, FTC, CoviracilGilead SciencesJuly 2, 2003
Emtricitabine, Tenofovir DFTruvadaGilead SciencesAug. 2, 2004
Lamivudine Epivir, 3TCGlaxoSmithKlineNov. 17, 1995
Lamivudine, ZidovudineCombivirGlaxoSmithKlineSept. 27, 1997
StavudineZerit, d4TBristol-Myers SquibbJune 24, 1994
Tenofovir DFViread, TDFGilead SciencesOct. 26, 2001
ZidovudineRetrovir, AZT, ZDVGlaxoSmithKlineMarch 19, 1987
Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
PIs disable protease, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. AmprenavirAgenerase, APVGlaxoSmithKline, Vertex PharmaceuticalsApril 15, 1999
AtazanavirReyataz, ATVBristol-Myers SquibbJune 20, 2003
DarunavirPrezista, TMC114, DRVTibotecJune 23, 2006
FosamprenavirLexiva, FPVGlaxoSmithKline, Vertex PharmaceuticalsOct. 20, 2003
IndinavirCrixivan, IDVMerckMarch 13, 1996
Lopinavir, RitonavirKaletra, LPV/rAbbott LaboratoriesSept. 15, 2000
NelfinavirViracept, NFVAgouron PharmaceuticalsMarch 14, 1997
RitonavirNorvir, RTVAbbott LaboratoriesMarch 1, 1996
SaquinavirInvirase, SQVHoffmann-La RocheDec. 6, 1995
TipranavirAptivus, TPVBoehringer IngelheimJune 22, 2005
Entry/Fusion Inhibitors
Entry/Fusion inhibitors work by blocking HIV entry into cells. EnfuvirtideFuzeon, T-20Hoffmann-La Roche, TrimerisMarch 13, 2003
MaravirocSelzentry, MVCPfizerAug. 6, 2007
Integrase Inhibitors
Integrase inhibitors disable integrase, a protein that HIV uses to insert its viral genetic material into the genetic material of an infected cell. RaltegravirIsentressMerckOct. 12, 2007
Fixed Dose Combination
Fixed dose combination tablets contain 2 or more anti-HIV medications that can be from 1 or more drug classes. Abacavir, LamivudineEpzicomGlaxoSmithKlineAug. 2, 2004
Abacavir, Lamivudine, ZidovudineTrizivirGlaxoSmithKlineNov. 14, 2000
Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir DFAtriplaBristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead SciencesJuly 12, 2006
Emtricitabine, Tenofovir DFTruvadaGilead SciencesAug. 2, 2004
Lamivudine, ZidovudineCombivirGlaxoSmithKlineSept. 27, 1997
This information is based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Drugs Used in the Treatment of HIV Infection (available at www.fda.gov/oashi/aids/virals.html).
This article was provided by AIDSinfo.
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See Also
More on the First Steps to HIV Treatment
HIV Medications: When to Start and What to Take -- A Guide From TheBody.com

 

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