DRUG NAMES AND MANUFACTURERS

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*
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 by 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® 1592U89 GlaxoSmithKline
2000 Zidovudine/Lamivudine/Abacavir Trizivir® Combines AZT, 3TC, Abacavir GlaxoSmithKline
2001 Tenofovir Viread® TDF, bis-poc PMPA Gilead Sciences
2003 Emtricitabine Emtriva? FTC Gilead Sciences
2004 Abacavir/lamivudine Epzicom? Combines Ziagen and 3TC (Epivir) GlaxoSmithKline
2004 Tenofovir/emtricitabine Truvada? Combines Viread and Emtriva Gilead Sciences
Other nukes in human trials: Elvucitabine (ACH-126,443, beta-L-Fd4C) by Achillion Pharmaceuticals, MIV-210 (FLG) by GlaxoSmithKline and Medivir, Racivir by Pharmasset Inc. and SPD754 by Shire Pharmaceuticals.
2. NON-NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS (NNRTIs or NON-NUKES)

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

Year*
Generic Name
Trade Name
Also known as:
Manufacturer
1996 Nevirapine Viramune® NVP, BI-RG-587 Boehringer Ingelheim
1997 Delavirdine Rescriptor® DLV Pfizer/Agouron
1998 Efavirenz Sustiva® EFV, DMP-266 Bristol-Myers Squibb
Other NNRTI's in human trials: +/-Calanolide A by Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceuticals, GW5634 by GlaxoSmithKline, MIV-150 by Medivir and Etravirine (TMC125) and TMC128 by Tibotec Virco.
2a. COMBINATION MEDICATION: Includes a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Year*
Generic Name
Trade Name
Also known as:
Manufacturer
2006 Emtricitabine, tenofovir, and efavirenz Atripla® Gilead Sciences and Merck
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*
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® by Roche, manufacture discontinued in 2006
1999 Amprenavir Agenerase® APV, 141W94 GlaxoSmithKline
2000 Lopinavir Kaletra® LPV, ABT-378/r Abbott
2003 Atazanavir Reyataz? ATV, BMS-232632 Bristol-Myers Squibb
2003 Fosamprenavir Lexiva? FPV, GW433908, 908 GlaxoSmithKline
2005 Tipranavir Aptivus? Boehringer Ingelheim
2006 Darunavir Prezista? TMC114 Tibotec
Other PIs in human trials: GW640385 by GlaxoSmithKline and 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.
5. ATTACHMENT AND FUSION INHIBITORS

Prevent HIV from attaching to a cell.

Year*
Generic Name
Trade Name
Also known as:
Manufacturer
2003 Enfuvirtide Fuzeon? T-20 Trimeris and Roche
Other fusion and attachment inhibitors in human trials include: AMD070 by AnorMED, BMS-806 by Bristol-Myers Squibb, FP21399 by Fuji Pharmaceuticals, GW873140 by GlaxoSmithKline, INCB9471 by Incyte, PRO 542 by Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Phase I/II trials), SCH-C and Vicriviroc (SCH-D) by Schering, TAK-220 by Takeda, TNX-355 by Tanox, and UK-427-857 by Pfizer.
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 USA.