HIV-1 protease inhibitors and mechanisms of HIV-1's resistance

Abstract

Current anti-HIV drugs have significantly improved the prognosis of HIV infected patients so much so that it is now considered a chronic disease, and adherence to medications keeps non-detectable amounts of the virus in the body. However, HIV is still able to generate drug resistance substitutions. Protease inhibitors (PIs) in combination with other classes of anti-HIV drugs constitute an important part of the anti-HIV drug regimen. This article discusses some of the common resistance substitutions against PIs, mechanistic insight on resistance, and potential new inhibitors that can show efficacy against current resistant variants.