IS THERE A ROLE FOR NONNUCLEOSIDE REVERSE-TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS INTHE TREATMENT OF HIV-INFECTION

Because the efficacy of currently approved antiretroviral agents used as prolonged monotherapy is limited, there is an urgent need for alter native agents for the treatment of HIV infection. We review the develo pment of a diverse group of new compounds, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), which are potent and specific inhib itors of HIV replication. Early clinical experience with the NNRTIs ha s demonstrated antiviral activity and a high therapeutic index, but so me patients rapidly develop viral strains resistant to these drugs. Th e contributions of NNRTI studies to the basic science of HIV pathogene sis and the potential clinical role of these compounds, particularly i n combination antiretroviral regimens, are discussed.