Anti-Retroviral Drugs for HIV: Old and New

Treatment of HIV started as monotherapy initially, and then multiple drugs in regimens were given where patients had to consume 11-16 tablets per day. Now the mainstay of the treatment is a single fixed dose combination of Tenofovir, Lamivudine and Efavirenz per day or Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine twice daily. Toxicity, resistance and adherence still remaina crucial issue. We need long acting depot preparations which would be efficacious for prevention, treatment and have fewer side effects. To implement test and treat policy promoted by WHO, regular supply of cost effective antiretroviral drugs and newer drugs which would get approved remains a challenge for developing countries. Hence we tried reviewing upcoming new molecules which showed potential to be good drugs in various phases of clinical trial.