Reverse transcriptase inhibitor

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Reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) are a class of antiretroviral drug used to treat HIV infection. RTIs inhibit activity of reverse transcriptase, a viral enzyme that HIV needs to reproduce.

When a retrovirus infects a cell, reverse transcriptase transcribes the viral RNA onto the host cell's DNA. The host's own processes then reproduce the virus. RTIs block reverse transcriptase from transcribing retroviral genetic information onto a host cell's DNA, thus preventing HIV from multiplying.

RTIs come in three forms:

Nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NARTIs or NRTIs)
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtARTIs or NtRTIs)

Nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NARTIs or NRTIs) compose the first class of antiretroviral drugs developed.

Zidovudine: Zidovudine, also called AZT, ZDV, and azidothymidine, has the trade name Retrovir®.
Didanosine: Didanosine, also called ddI, with the trade names Videx® and Videx EC®, was the second FDA-approved antiretroviral drug.
Zalcitabine: Zalcitabine, also called ddC and dideoxycytidine, has the trade name Hivid®.
Stavudine: Stavudine, also called d4T, has trade names Zerit® and Zerit XR®.
Lamivudine: Lamivudine, also called 3TC, has the trade name Epivir®.
Abacavir: Abacavir, also called ABC, has the trade name Ziagen®, is an analog of guanosine.
Emtricitabine: Emtricitabine, also called FTC, has the trade name Emtriva® (formerly Coviracil).

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) compose the third class of antiretroviral drugs that were developed. In all cases, patents remain in force until beyond 2010.

Nevirapine: Nevirapine has the trade name Viramune®.
Delavirdine: Delavirdine has the trade name
Efavirenz: Efavirenz has trade names Sustiva® and Stocrin®.

Nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Normally, nucleoside analogs are converted into nucleotide analogs by the body. Taking Nucleotide Analog Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NtARTIs or NtRTIs) directly allows conversion steps to be skipped, causing less toxicity.

Tenofovir: Tenofovir, also known as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, has the trade name Viread®.
Adefovir: Adefovir, also known as bis-POM PMPA, has trade names Preveon® and Hepsera®. It is not approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV.

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