HIV Treatment: Definition, Types, Existing and Emerging Therapies

When untreated, HIV has the likelihood to cause AIDS — a developing life-threatening condition that degenerates the human immune system. As of now, there has been no fruitful cure for HIV, and the only objective of HIV treatment drugs is to diminish the viral load that functions as a controlling factor in the development of the disease.

What Is HIV?

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus falls under the Lentivirus (genus of retrovirus) species that aggress upon the body’s immune system and reduces the body’s ability to fend off external infections. The transmission of HIV takes place during contact with vaginal fluids, semen, or infected blood. HIV sabotages the immune cells of the body and makes the affected individual more susceptible to infectious diseases. HIV consists of a retroviral form of RNA and not the usual DNA. HIV-1 and HIV-2 are the two main classes of HIV found worldwide, where HIV-2 is commonly restricted to western Africa.

At present, HIV treatment drugs mainly include ART (antiretroviral therapy) based treatment drugs. Today, many emerging and existing HIV drugs have been approved under ART.

The Existing HIV Treatment Drugs.

The existing marketed HIV drugs are categorized into different classes, depending on how they interfere with the virus life cycle, as follows:

• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
• Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
• Fusion inhibitors.
• Protease inhibitors (PIs).
• Post Attachment inhibitors.
• CCR5 antagonists.
• Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs).
• Attachment inhibitors.

The marketed HIV treatment drugs include Vocabria, Cabenuva, Juluca, Temixys, Dovato, Delstrigo, Pifeltro, Biktarvy, Symtuza, and several others.

The Emerging HIV Treatment Drugs.

Many emerging HIV treatment drugs are at present under clinical trials and are expected to launch soon. Some of these drugs include:

• Islatravir, By Merck & Co.
• Lenacapavir (GS-6207), By Gilead Sciences.
• MK-8591A (Islatravir/Doravirine; DOR/ISL), By Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
• GSK3640254 (GSK’254), By GlaxoSmithKline/ViiV Healthcare.
• VAC89220, By Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
• MK8591B (Islatravir + MK-8507), By Merck & Co.
• Vocabria (cabotegravir), By ViiV Healthcare.
• Vyrologix/Leronlimab, By CytoDyn.
• Albuvirtide, By R-Pharm Group and Frontier Biotechnologies.
• UB-421, By United BioPharma.

Conclusion

HIV drugs have progressed significantly since their first detection around 40 years ago. Once deemed as a life-threatening disease with no treatment, HIV AIDS now has an abundant option of available treatments. Additionally, HIV preventive drugs are also under examination by pharmaceutical giants like ViiV Healthcare, Gilead Sciences, and Merck & Co.

However, despite many advances in the scientific understanding of HIV, its treatment, and prevention, many people at risk of HIV still don’t have access to treatment, prevention, and care.

Sources: HIV Therapeutics Market — Insights into Novel Therapies and Companies, By Delveinsight.