Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors: A Thorough Review, Present Status and Future Perspective As HIV Therapeutics

Overview

Journal Curr HIV Res

Publisher Bentham Science Publishers

Date 2017 Nov 23

PMID 29165087

Citations 48

Authors

Ashley D Holec

Subhra Mandal

Pavan Kumar Prathipati

Christopher J Destache

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a severe viral infection that has claimed approximately 658,507 lives in the US between the years 2010-2014. Antiretroviral (ARV) therapy has proven to inhibit HIV-1, but unlike other viral illness, not cure the infection.

Objective: Among various Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved ARVs, nucleoside/ nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are most effective in limiting HIV-1 infection. This review focuses on NRTIs mechanism of action and metabolism.

Methods: A search of PubMed (1982-2016) was performed to capture relevant articles regarding NRTI pharmacology.

Results: The current classical NRTIs pharmacology for HIV-1 prevention and treatment are presented. Finally, various novel strategies are proposed to improve the efficacy of NRTIs, which will increase therapeutic efficiency of present-day HIV-1 prevention/treatment regimen.

Conclusion: Use of NRTIs will continue to be critical for successful treatment and prevention of HIV-1.

Citing Articles

The Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Liver Function Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Co-Existence with and Without Pre-Eclampsia.

Strauss K, Phoswa W, Mokgalaboni K Viruses. 2025; 17(1).

PMID: 39861817 PMC: 11768528. DOI: 10.3390/v17010028.

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI)-Induced Neuropathy and Mitochondrial Toxicity: Limitations of the Poly-γ Hypothesis and the Potential Roles of Autophagy and Drug Transport.

Haynes J, Joshi A, Larue R, Eisenmann E, Govindarajan R Pharmaceutics. 2025; 16(12.

PMID: 39771570 PMC: 11677988. DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16121592.

30 years of HIV therapy: Current and future antiviral drug targets.

Nuwagaba J, Li J, Ngo B, Sutton R Virology. 2024; 603:110362.

PMID: 39705895 PMC: 11788039. DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110362.

Efficacy assessment of antiretroviral drugs against equine infectious anemia virus in vitro.

Schimmich C, Vabret A, Valle-Casuso J Virus Res. 2024; 350:199503.

PMID: 39613191 PMC: 11699113. DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199503.

Nucleoside and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs (NRTIs and NNRTIs) are capable of binding Chandipura virus polymerase protein (L) and inhibit virus replication.

Mandal D, Pandey D, Sarkar D, Kumar M Virusdisease. 2024; 35(3):420-427.

PMID: 39464733 PMC: 11502645. DOI: 10.1007/s13337-024-00883-w.

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