Hiv-1 Specific Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors: why are Tsao-Nucleosides so Unique?

1. INTRODUCTION

AIDS will still be one of the most important challenges for the Scientific Community in the approaching new century. Since the identification, in 1983-84,^1,2 of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the etiological agent of AIDS, significant progress has been made in the treatment of HIV-infected patients. This has been in part due to the discovery and clinical use of an increasing number of anti-HIV drugs. However, while highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)³ approaches have reduced the morbidity and mortality, the intertwined problems of drug induced viral resistance, poor compliance with complex regimens and therapy failure continue. Therefore, there remains a pressing need for the development of new antiviral agents that can be used not only as first line therapeutic candidates, but also in the antiretroviral-experienced patient population.