Current developments in the synthesis and biological activity of HIV-1 double-drug inhibitors

Curr Med Chem. 2007;14(11):1207-20. doi: 10.2174/092986707780597952.

Abstract

A combination of different HIV inhibitors into a single molecular entity is a strategy that is growing in popularity in HIV-chemotherapy research. The high levels of resistance elicited by both nucleoside and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors has prompted the design of double-drugs combining these two entities with the aim of addressing the emergence of resistance. The strategy involves combining two different inhibitors into a single chemical entity via a linker, with the aim of improving the physicochemical characteristics of the individual compounds. Linkers may be sub-divided into cleavable and non-cleavable. While the former result in regeneration of the parent drugs of the double-drug once in the cell cytoplasm, the latter type is designed to allow the double-drug to target two active sites in a simultaneous or bifunctional fashion, which are located in close proximity. The linkers have been attached at the C-5', C-5 or N-3 positions of the nucleoside, and in some of the substrates synthesized, a synergistic anti-HIV activity has been observed. This review focuses on the design and synthesis of anti-HIV double-drugs reported to date.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzylamines
  • Cyclams
  • Dimerization
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Galactosylceramides / therapeutic use
  • HIV Fusion Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • HIV Fusion Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Benzylamines
  • Cyclams
  • Drug Combinations
  • Galactosylceramides
  • HIV Fusion Inhibitors
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • plerixafor