Sorin Rugină *, Claudia Simona Lungu **
* Medic primar Boli Infecțioase, șef lucrări – Facultatea de Medicină – Universitatea Ovidius Constanța, Coordonatorul Centrului Regional SIDA, Constanța
** Medic specialist Boli Infecțioase, Asistent universitar – Facultatea de Medicină – Universitatea Ovidius Constanța
Abstract
There are currently 17 antiretroviral drugs approved or available through expanded access programs. Therapy with combinations of these existing drugs, which inhibit either the viral protease or reverse transcriptase enzyme, is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV-1 infection. However, as many as 50% of treated patients do not have a sustained antiviral response and durable clinical benefit. Fortunately, there are dozens of additional new antiretroviral drugs in development, of which between six and 12 could realistically become available within the next few years. What distinguishes the current drugs in development, compared with those currently available, are the more favorable pharmacokinetic and resistance profiles, even within drug classes, and the addition of two new viral targets, integrase and viral entry.