Anti-HIV nucleosides

In 1985, a broad family of dideoxynucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were identified as being active against a divergent range of HIV in vitro . Three such drugs - AZT, ddC, and ddI - had become prescription drugs by 1991. More recently, d4T and 3TC have been added to this nucleoside armamentarium. Indeed, despite their side effects, insufficient antiviral activity, and the propensity of HIV-1 to develop drug resistance, anti-HIV nucleosides have brought about substantial clinical benefits to HIV-1-infected individuals in the last decade. Even with the development of new modalities of AIDS therapy, anti-HIV nucleosides will continue to play a major role in the therapy of HIV-1 infection. This book discusses the development, rationale, present status, and the future of the use of anti-HIV nucleosides.