HIVReverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Abstract

The first antiviral compound ever shown to be active in vitro against HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) (originally referred to as HTLV‐III (human lymphotropic virus type III) and LAV‐1 (lymphadenopathy‐associated virus type 1)) was suramin; suramin was also the first antiviral found to be effective in vivo in the treatment of HIV infections. Suramin was explored as a potential strategy for the therapy of AIDS because it has been recognized as a potent inhibitor of the reverse transcriptase (RT) associated with a number of animal retroviruses. Later, it became evident that suramin primarily acts against HIV infections as an inhibitor of virus adsorption rather than an RT inhibitor.