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AIDS InfoNet • Fact Sheet 402
Drug Names and Manufacturers

April 13, 2008

  1. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ("Nukes")
  2. Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  3. Protease Inhibitors
  4. Integrase Inhibitors
  5. Attachment and Fusion Inhibitors
  6. Antisense Drugs
  7. Immune Modulators


None of these drugs can kill the HIV virus, but each class slows down the multiplication of the virus (replication) in a particular way.


1. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ("Nukes")

The first anti-HIV drugs. They block reverse transcription (the creation of viral DNA from RNA) by providing "decoy" building blocks that interrupt the process. Most are nucleoside analogs; tenofovir is a nucleotide analog.


Year
Approved*
Generic Name Trade Name Also Known As: Manufacturer
1987 Zidovudine Retrovir AZT, ZDV GlaxoSmithKline
1991 Didanosine Videx ddI Bristol-Myers Squibb, Barr Laboratories (generic)
1992 Zalcitabine Hivid ddC,
dideoxycytidine
Roche: Manufacture discontinued in 2006
1994 Stavudine Zerit d4T Bristol-Myers Squibb
1995 Lamivudine Epivir 3TC GlaxoSmithKline
1997 Zidovudine/
lamivudine
Combivir Combines AZT
and 3TC
GlaxoSmithKline
1998 Abacavir Ziagen ABC GlaxoSmithKline
2000 Zidovudine/
lamivudine/
abacavir
Trizivir Combines AZT, 3TC, abacavir GlaxoSmithKline
2001 Tenofovir Viread TDF Gilead Sciences
2003 Emtricitabine Emtriva FTC Gilead Sciences
2004 Abacavir/lamivudine Epzicom Combines Ziagen and 3TC GlaxoSmithKline
2004 Emtricitabine/tenofovir Truvada Combines Emtriva and Viread Gilead Sciences
Other nukes in human trials: Elvucitabine (ACH-126,443, beta-L-Fd4C) by Achillion Pharmaceuticals, MIV-210 (FLG) by GlaxoSmithKline and Medivir, and Racivir by Pharmasset Inc. and SPD754 by Shire Pharmaceuticals.


2. Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

These also interrupt reverse transcription, by binding to the reverse transcriptase enzyme and restricting its activity.


Year
Approved*
Generic Name Trade Name Also Known As: Manufacturer
1996 Nevirapine Viramune NVP Boehringer Ingelheim
1997 Delavirdine Rescriptor DLV Pfizer/Agouron
1998 Efavirenz Sustiva,Stocrin EFV Bristol-Myers Squibb
2008 Etravirine Intelence ETR Tibotec
Other NNRTIs in human trials: +/-Calanolide A by Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceuticals, GW5634 by GlaxoSmithKline, MIV-150 by Medivir, and Etravirine (TMC125) and TMC128 by Tibotec.


2a. Combination Medication

Includes a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.


Year
Approved*
Generic Name Trade Name Also Known As: Manufacturer
2006 Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir Atripla®™ Combines Sustiva, Emtriva and Viread Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead


3. Protease Inhibitors

Block the action of protease, an enzyme that cuts HIV protein chains into specific proteins needed to assemble a new copy of the virus. NOTE: when you see "/r" after the name of a protease inhibitor, that means it is boosted with a small dose of ritonavir. For example, SQV/r means saquinavir boosted with ritonavir.

Year
Approved*
Generic Name Trade Name Also Known As: Manufacturer
1995 Saquinavir Invirase SQV Roche
1996 Ritonavir Norvir RTV Abbott
1996 Indinavir Crixivan IDV Merck
1997 Nelfinavir Viracept NFV Pfizer/Agouron
1997 Saquinavir Fortovase; Manufacture discontinued in 2006 Roche
1999 Amprenavir Agenerase; Manufacture discontinued in 2007 GlaxoSmithKline
2000 Lopinavir Kaletra, Aluvia LPV Abbott
2003 Atazanavir Reyataz®™ ATV Bristol-Myers Squibb
2003 Fosamprenavir Lexiva®™, Telzir FPV GlaxoSmithKline
2005 Tipranavir Aptivus TPV Boehringer Ingelheim
2006 Darunavir Prezista DRV Tibotec
Other PIs in human trials: GW640385 by GlaxoSmithKline, RO033-4649 by Roche.


4. Integrase Inhibitors

Block the action of integrase, an enzyme that inserts the viral DNA into the infected cell's DNA strands. Raltegravir (Isentress, MK-0518) by Merck was approved in 2007. No integrase inhibitors have been approved yet. Elvitegravir (Gilead 9137, JTK-303) has completed a Phase II study. GSK364735 by GlaxoSmithKline and Shionogi is in a Phase II study.

Year
Approved*
Generic Name Trade Name Also Known As: Manufacturer
2007 Raltegravir Isentress RGV Merck
Other integrase inhibitors in human trials: Elvitegravir (Gilead 9137, JTK-303) completed a Phase II study. GSK364735 by GlaxoSmithKline is in a Phase II study.


5. Attachment and Fusion Inhibitors

Prevent HIV from attaching to a cell.

Year
Approved*
Generic Name Trade Name Also Known As: Manufacturer
2003 Enfuvirtide Fuzeon T-20 Trimeris/Roche
2007 Maraviroc Selzentry, Celsentri MVC Pfizer
Other fusion and attachment inhibitors in human trials include: AMD070 by AnorMED, BMS-378806 by Bristol-Myers Squibb, INCB9471 by Incyte, PRO 140 by Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vicriviroc (SCH-D) by Schering, TAK-220 by Takeda and TNX-355 by Tanox.


6. Antisense Drugs

These are a "mirror image" of part of the HIV genetic code that locks onto the virus to prevent it from functioning. One antisense drug, HGTV43 by Enzo Therapeutics, is in Phase I trials.


7. Immune Modulators

Use the body's chemical messengers to stimulate the immune response. Over a dozen immune modulators are being studied in humans. See Fact Sheet 480 for more information.


*Year of approval in the U.S.A.


This article was provided by AIDS InfoNet.