Bevirimat

An antiretroviral drug candidate

Bevirimat
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Bevirimat is an investigational drug that was developed as a potential treatment for HIV/AIDS. It is a derivative of the triterpene betulinic acid and functions as a maturation inhibitor, a novel class of antiretroviral drugs.

Mechanism of Action

Bevirimat works by inhibiting the final step in the HIV maturation process. During the replication of HIV, the Gag polyprotein is cleaved by the viral protease into its functional components. Bevirimat specifically targets the cleavage site between the capsid (CA) and spacer peptide 1 (SP1) of the Gag polyprotein, preventing the proper formation of the mature capsid. This results in the production of immature, non-infectious viral particles.

Development and Clinical Trials

Chemical structure of Bevirimat

Bevirimat was initially developed by Panacos Pharmaceuticals and later acquired by Myriad Genetics. It underwent several phases of clinical trials to evaluate its safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics. Early studies showed promise, with reductions in viral load observed in some patients. However, the drug's development faced challenges due to variability in patient response, which was linked to genetic polymorphisms in the HIV-1 Gag protein.

Challenges and Discontinuation

The development of Bevirimat was eventually discontinued. One of the primary challenges was the presence of naturally occurring polymorphisms in the Gag protein of different HIV strains, which affected the drug's efficacy. These polymorphisms altered the cleavage site targeted by Bevirimat, reducing its ability to inhibit viral maturation effectively. Additionally, the emergence of resistance mutations further complicated its development.

Potential and Future Research

Despite its discontinuation, Bevirimat has paved the way for further research into maturation inhibitors as a class of antiretroviral drugs. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance and the role of genetic polymorphisms in drug efficacy remains a critical area of study. Future research may focus on developing new compounds that can overcome these challenges or on combination therapies that include maturation inhibitors.

Related Pages

• HIV/AIDS
• Antiretroviral drug
• Protease inhibitor
• Viral replication