New antiretroviral agents: looking beyond protease and reverse transcriptase

The clinical utility of intervention in HIV-1 disease has been proven by in hibitors targeting reverse transcriptase and protease. However, novel appro aches including inhibition of viral entry, integration and assembly would p rovide additional options to maintain long-term suppression. The identifica tion of specific inhibitors for each of these processes has recently valida ted these approaches as viable alternatives for the development of new agen ts to treat HIV-1 infection. The most recent preclinical advances in novel antiretroviral agents are reviewed and promising new approaches that target viral processes are highlighted.