| Attachment and fusion inhibitors |
Attachment and fusion inhibitors are a new class of anti-HIV drugs. They interrupt the HIV virus at the very beginning of its life cycle by preventing the virus from attaching itself to the host and breaking through the cell membrane. Because they are broken down by digestive acids, they are usually given by injections.
| Attachment and fusion inhibitors in development |
**These drugs have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) for use against HIV.
BMS-806 by Bristol Myers Squibb (Phase I/II)
BMS-806 is an attachment inhibitor that is expected to be taken orally.
FP21399 by Fuji Pharmaceuticals (Phase I)
FP21399 is taken by intravenous infusions and produced viral load decreases and CD4+ cell increases. Some minor side effects include blue-tinted urine and temporary blue marks on the skin.
GW873140 by GlaxoSmithKline (Phase I)
GW873140 inhibits HIV infection by blocking the CCR5 receptor, which is believed to be the predominant co-receptor used by HIV in the early and middle stages of infection.
PRO 542 by Progenics Pharmaceuticals (Phase II)
PRO 542 blocks fusion by binding to a protein on the outside of the virus. When used as combination of PRO 542 with T-20, they blocked the entry of the HIV virus better and reduced the individual doses by 10-fold or more.
For more information, please visit PRO542.
Schering C (SCH-C) and Schering D by Schering Plough (Phase I)
Schering C (SCH-C) and Schering D prevent the HIV virus from attaching itself to CD4 cells by blocking their CCR5 receptor. Schering C may cause some heart irregularities.
TNX-355 by Tanox (Phase I)
TNX-355 blocks the CD4 receptor to prevent HIV's entry into CD4 cells. It is a genetically engineered drug and may be administered by injection. No significant side effects are discovered.
For more information, please visit TNX-355.
UK-427,857 by Pfizer (Phase II)
Pfizer has tested UK-427,857 in healthy volunteers and is continuing to develop it.
