Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) or "Non-nucs"

Another type of drug developed to treat HIV was the NNRTI or "non-nuc." The first non-nuc was approved by the FDA in 1996.

How are non-nucs different from nucs?

Similar to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) or "nucs," non-nucs work by slowing down the rate at which copies of HIV are made in the body. While their function is the same, the difference between nucs and non-nucs is in the way that they work and the parts of the HIV virus on which they act.

How non-nucs work

Just like a cell, HIV also has its own genetic code. The genetic code of HIV provides directions to the virus on how to make copies of itself. In order for HIV to make copies, there are a few things the virus needs to do:

• The virus needs to invade a cell in the human body
• HIV has to insert its own "instructions" or genetic code into the DNA of the human cell

In order for HIV to insert its genetic code into the DNA of a human cell, HIV must "translate" its genetic code into a language that the human cell can understand. Non-nucs work by interfering in this translation process. As a result, HIV is unable to insert its genetic code into the DNA of the cell.

FDA-approved NNRTIs

Brand name Generic name Pharmaceutical company Atripla™*† efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir DF Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences Rescriptor®† delavirdine mesylate Pfizer Sustiva®† efavirenz Bristol-Myers Squibb Viramune®† nevirapine Boehringer Ingelheim

*Atripla is a combination tablet that contains 2 NRTIs and an NNRTI.

^†The brands listed above are trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of The GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies. The makers of these brands are not affiliated with and do not endorse GlaxoSmithKline or its products.

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