Investigational drugs in HIV: Pros and cons of entry and fusion inhibitors (Review)

Mol Med Rep. 2019 Mar;19(3):1987-1995. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2019.9840. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Abstract

Despite the profound changes and improvements reached in the field of HIV treatment, tolerability and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy remains a challenge. Furthermore, multi-experienced patients could take advantage of drugs with different mechanisms of action to combat the spread of resistance to actual therapy. For these reasons identification of new HIV drugs is crucial. Among all the molecules that at present are under investigation, entry and fusion inhibitors pose an interesting class owing to their peculiar characteristics, including prevention of entry of the virus into the human cells. In this study, we reviewed articles, clinical trials, and conference communications about all the drugs under investigation belonging to the class of entry and fusion inhibitors that are at least in phase I clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • Drugs, Investigational / therapeutic use*
  • HIV Fusion Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Drugs, Investigational
  • HIV Fusion Inhibitors
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors