Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): past, present, and future. 2004

Erik De Clercq
Rega Institute for Medical Research, K.U. Leuven, B-3000 Leuven. erik.declercq@rega.kuleuven.ac.be

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) have become an inherent ingredient of the drug combination schemes that are currently used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections. Starting from the 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylsulfanyl)thymine (HEPT) and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one and -thione (TIBO) derivatives, numerous classes of compounds have been described as NNRTIs. Only three compounds have so far been approved for clinical use: nevirapine, delavirdine, and efavirenz. NNRTIs are notorious for rapidly leading to virus-drug resistance development, primarily based on the emergence of the K103N and Y181C mutations in the HIV-1 RT. Newer NNRTIs, such as capravirine, dapivirine (TMC 125), and DPC 083, are resilient to these 'NNRTI' mutations, and, therefore, offer considerable promise as future anti-HIV-1 drugs. NNRTIs are targeted at a specific 'pocket' binding site within the HIV-1 RT, that is distinct from, but both spatially and functionally related to, the catalytic site, where the nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and nucleotide RT inhibitors (NtRTIs) interact. NNRTIs have acquired a definitive position, as part of a combination regimen with NRTIs and NtRTIs, in the first-line treatment of HIV-1 infections.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009705 Nucleosides Purine or pyrimidine bases attached to a ribose or deoxyribose. (From King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Nucleoside,Nucleoside Analog,Nucleoside Analogs,Analog, Nucleoside,Analogs, Nucleoside
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015497 HIV-1 The type species of LENTIVIRUS and the etiologic agent of AIDS. It is characterized by its cytopathic effect and affinity for the T4-lymphocyte. Human immunodeficiency virus 1,HIV-I,Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1,Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, Human
D015658 HIV Infections Includes the spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus infections that range from asymptomatic seropositivity, thru AIDS-related complex (ARC), to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HTLV-III Infections,HTLV-III-LAV Infections,T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human,HIV Coinfection,Coinfection, HIV,Coinfections, HIV,HIV Coinfections,HIV Infection,HTLV III Infections,HTLV III LAV Infections,HTLV-III Infection,HTLV-III-LAV Infection,Infection, HIV,Infection, HTLV-III,Infection, HTLV-III-LAV,Infections, HIV,Infections, HTLV-III,Infections, HTLV-III-LAV,T Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human
D054303 HIV Reverse Transcriptase A reverse transcriptase encoded by the POL GENE of HIV. It is a heterodimer of 66 kDa and 51 kDa subunits that are derived from a common precursor protein. The heterodimer also includes an RNAse H activity (RIBONUCLEASE H, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) that plays an essential role the viral replication process. Reverse Transcriptase, HIV,Reverse Transcriptase, Human Immunodeficiency Virus,Transcriptase, HIV Reverse
D018894 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Inhibitors of reverse transcriptase (RNA-DIRECTED DNA POLYMERASE), an enzyme that synthesizes DNA on an RNA template. Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor,Inhibitors, Reverse Transcriptase,Inhibitor, Reverse Transcriptase,Transcriptase Inhibitor, Reverse

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