NOTE: Several fact sheets describe drugs that are being tested against HIV:
These drugs have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use against HIV.
Gene Therapies
Several products are being developed to interfere with genes used by HIV.
- HGTV43 by Enzo Biochem is an ?antisense? therapy designed to produce CD4 cells (T-cells) that resist infection by HIV. It is in Phase I trials.
- M87o by EUFETS AG is a gene therapy that makes T-cells resist infection by HIV. It is being studied in a Phase I trial.
- Mifepristone (VGX410, also known as RU486) by Viral Genomix, interferes with the viral protein vpr. It is in a Phase I/II trial. BI-201 by BioInvent is an antibody designed to block HIV's tat gene. It is in Phase I/II trials.
- Modified CD4 and CD8 cells by Cell Genesys are genetically modified to block attachment by HIV.
- RRz2 by Johnson & Johnson is a ribozyme that attacks HIV?s tat gene. It is in Phase II trials.
- SB-728-T by Sangamo BioSciences is used to genetically modify a patient's own CD4 cells to make them immune to HIV infection. It is in a Phase I trial.
- VRX496 by VIRxSYS is in Phase II trials. It appears to bind to the RNA (genetic code) of HIV and disrupt it.
Integrase Inhibitors
After HIV's genetic code is changed from a single strand to a double strand by the reverse transcriptase enzyme, it gets inserted (integrated) into the genetic code of the infected cell. Then the HIV genetic code gets "read," producing new viruses. Scientists hope that integration will be another point in the HIV life cycle that can be targeted by drugs.
Elvitegravir (also known as Gilead 9137 and JTK-303) is now in a phase III study. The drug is used boosted with ritonavir or with Gilead's new booster GS 9350. It is eliminated almost entirely via the feces, not the kidneys, so no dose adjustments are needed for patients with kidney problems.
S/GSK1349572 by Shionogi and GlaxoSmithKline is a once-daily integrase inhibitor in Phase II trials. It does not require boosting. A backup compound, S/GSK1265744, just completed a Phase I/IIa study.
Maturation Inhibitors
A new type of drug inhibits the development of HIV's internal structures in a new virus. The first "maturation inhibitor" being tested is
bevirimat (PA457, now MPC-4326) by Myriad Pharmaceuticals. It is moving into a Phase IIb trial as a twice a day pill. Early results show strong antiretroviral activity and good tolerability.
Another maturation inhibitor is Vivecon (MPC 9055) also by Myriad Genetics. It is moving into Phase II trials. The company says it can be delivered in pill or capsule form.
Zinc Finger Inhibitors
The inner core of HIV is called the nucleocapsid. It is held together by structures called "zinc fingers." Zinc finger inhibitors (or zinc ejectors) are drugs that can break apart these structures and prevent the virus from functioning.
Scientists believe that the nucleocapsid core cannot mutate very easily, so a drug that works against zinc fingers might be effective for a long time. Unfortunately, zinc fingers are not only used by the HIV virus. Drugs that attack them could have serious side effects.
One zinc finger inhibitor -- azodicarbonamide (ADA) -- has been tested in a Phase I/II trial, but there are no recent reports on its development.
Viral Decay Accelerator
A new type of drug under development encourages mutations in HIV to the point that the virus is no longer functional. Unfortunately, development of the only drug of this type was discontinued in 2008.
Drugs No Longer in Development
- BI201 by BioInvent
- KP-1461 by Koronis
- L870810 (integrase inhibitor) by Merck
- S-1360, GW810781 (integrase inhibitor) by Shionogi and GlaxoSmithKline
