Report: More than 80 anti-HIV drugs in development

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America released a report in December showing that more than 80 anti-HIV medications and vaccines are in development at Western pharmaceutical companies. All 83 new compounds are either in clinical trials or are awaiting review by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the report. Of the 15 HIV vaccines in development are compounds intended both to prevent HIV infection and to help those already infected from ever developing immune system damage and AIDS. The anti-HIV medications in development include the first in a new class of medications called integrase inhibitors, which aim to disrupt HIV's ability to replicate at a previously untargeted step in the replication process. Other drugs being evaluated include a gene therapy medication aimed at boosting immune responses, antifungals that combat AIDS-related opportunistic infections, new entry-inhibitor medications, and more powerful versions of existing drugs.