HIV Therapeutics: An Emerging Science

Between 1 and 2 million Americans are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).1Available evidence suggests that most, if not all, will ultimately develop the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) within a projected mean of eight years after HIV acquistion.2Clearly, the need is great for HIV-directed therapy. Due to the ability of HIV to establish latent infection within cells, therapy must be considered as lifelong in duration with a "cure" unlikely in the near future. Therefore, the goals of therapy for now must be to improve the quality and quantity of life for persons with AIDS and to prevent disease progression in persons with AIDS-related complex (ARC) and asymptomatic HIV infection. Potential therapeutic agents for HIV infection must surmount major hurdles, including control of latent virus infection, central nervous system penetration, and the rapid development of viral variants. These agents are then administered to persons with ARC