Fact Sheet 402

Drug Names and Manufacturers

REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS (NUKES)
NON-NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS (NNRTIs)
PROTEASE INHIBITORS
INTEGRASE INHIBITORS
ATTACHMENT AND FUSION INHIBITORS
ANTISENSE DRUGS
IMMUNE STIMULATORS

None of these drugs can kill the HIV virus, but each class slows down the multiplication of the virus (replication) in a particular way.

Combination medications: Some manufacturers have combined more than one drug into a single tablet or capsule. Combinations within a single class are listed below. Combinations of more than one type of medication are discussed in Fact Sheet 470.

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.

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.

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. At present, only lopinavir and ritonavir are available in a single pill.

4. INTEGRASE INHIBITORS

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

Attachment and Fusion Inhibitors: Block the action of integrase, an enzyme that inserts the viral DNA into the infected cell’s DNA strands.

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. 

7. IMMUNE MODULATORS

Use the body's chemical messengers to stimulate the immune response. Over a dozen immune modulators are being studied in humans. 

*Year of approval in the USA. Many generic versions have been approved under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). See http://www.fda.gov/oia/pepfar.htm for more information.