The portfolio of HIV medicines available today has significantly altered the mortality rate and dramatically extended lifespan in many parts of the world.
HIV medicines belong to the class of antiretroviral drugs. These will not cure HIV but can delay the onset of AIDS and help the person to remain healthy for longer. Each type of medicine attacks HIV in a different way, but all work by stopping the virus from replicating. A combination of these medicines is recommended and they are taken for the rest of the person’s life.
There are four main types of antiretroviral medicines:
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Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
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Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
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Protease inhibitors (PIs), which prevent the production of mature, infectious virus particles in infected human cells by blocking an enzyme called protease
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Fusion or Entry Inhibitors, which stop HIV from entering human cells where they could replicate
Combining these medicines, which is known as HAART or highly active antiretroviral therapy, has significantly improved life expectancy.
ViiV Healthcare has a portfolio of 10 established medicines, which were previously developed and marketed by GSK or Pfizer.
In 2008, this portfolio generated sales of approximately £1.6 billion. These revenues provide us with both financial stability and also enable us to make major investments in the research and development of innovative HIV treatments and formulations.
| Product |
Class |
| Combivir |
NRTI |
| Epivir/3TC |
NRTI |
| Epzicom/Kivexa |
NRTI |
| Lexiva/Telzir |
Protease inhibitor |
| Rescriptor |
NNRTI (US only) |
| Retrovir/AZT |
NRTI |
| Selzentry/Celsentri |
CCR5 antagonist |
| Trizivir |
NRTI |
| Viracept |
Protease inhibitor
(N. America only) |
| Ziagen |
NRTI |
Find out more about our medicines through the links below:
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