Brecanavir

Brecanavir

Brecanavir is an experimental antiretroviral drug that was under development for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It belongs to the class of drugs known as protease inhibitors, which work by preventing the HIV virus from replicating in the body.

Development and Clinical Trials

Brecanavir was developed by GlaxoSmithKline, a British multinational pharmaceutical company. The drug entered Phase II clinical trials in 2005, but development was discontinued in 2006 due to poor clinical results and issues with drug formulation.

Mechanism of Action

As a protease inhibitor, Brecanavir works by binding to the HIV-1 protease, an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate. By inhibiting this enzyme, the drug prevents the virus from multiplying, thereby reducing the amount of virus in the body.

Side Effects and Safety

The safety and side effects of Brecanavir were evaluated in clinical trials. Common side effects included nausea, diarrhea, and headache. Serious side effects were rare, but included liver damage and severe skin reactions.

Future Research

Despite the discontinuation of Brecanavir, research into protease inhibitors continues. These drugs remain a vital part of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), which is the standard treatment for HIV/AIDS.

See Also

• Antiretroviral drug
• Protease inhibitor
• HIV/AIDS
• GlaxoSmithKline

References

• Brecanavir: a review of its development for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. Antiviral Therapy. 2007.
• Discontinued drugs in 2006: HIV infection. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 2007.