New therapeutic prospects in AIDS [NUOVE PROSPETTIVE TERAPEUTICHE DELL'AIDS]

In this paper we decribe the current status of the chemotherapy of HIV-related disease, and the newly emerging approaches to this problem. Azidothymidine, the first anti-HIV drug, is now used by thousands of patients with AIDS, and is able to induce a substantial improvement of their clinical status. However, due to its toxicity and its very limited activity against HIV replication in chronically infected cells (the natural reservoir of the virus in the body), it is crucial that new drugs be developed. A number of compounds belonging to the dideoxynucleoside family (the same of AZT) have been synthesized and used in HIV-infected patients, with promising results. Nevertheless, new compounds with different mechanisms of action, and with excellent anti-HIV efficacy need to be developed, particularly those that can inhibit the late stages of HIV replication. This will permit a polychemotherapeutic approach against HIV infection that, as in the case of anticancer chemotherapy, has conceivably better chances to be effective in patients with HVI-related disease.