A recently released report by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) provides information about 97 new drugs and vaccines that are currently in the process of being tested for use towards the prevention or cure of HIV and AIDS.

These 97 medications include 23 vaccines and 54 antiviral drugs, all of which are currently in clinical trials or waiting for FDA approval.

“We are greatly encouraged by these critically important medicines and vaccines in development to treat and prevent HIV infection,” said Billy Tauzin, President and CEO of PhRMA, in a press release.

Among the drugs currently on the list provided by PhRMA is Intelence (etravirine), which has now been granted approval by the FDA for use in treatment experienced patients.

Intelence is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), which is a class of antiretroviral drugs that inhibit the action of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme in the body that helps copy the genetic material of HIV into the DNA of human white blood cells.

Intelence is especially important for treatment experienced patients who have exhibited resistance to other NNRTIs and antiretroviral medications, as it is specifically targeted towards helping this group of patients.

Since HIV was first discovered in the 1980’s, thirty-one drugs have been approved to fight the disease.

According to Tauzin, “the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future.”

Another important drug included on the PhRMA report is dapivirine, which is being tested for prevention of HIV transmission in women.

The drug comes in the form of a vaginal gel, and if incorporated into intravaginal rings, it could prove to be much more effective than traditional microbicides.

Past research regarding HIV transmission has also focused on intravaginal rings and vaginal gels for use by women (see related Beacon News).

Vaginal rings have been previously used by women to prevent pregnancy; however, recent research has explored including anti-HIV chemicals into the ring that interrupt stages in the HIV life cycle to prevent it from replicating.

With approximately 33 million people living with HIV worldwide, and many in countries where access to medical care is scarce, developing treatment options that are globally viable is important.

There have been several previous ventures focused on addressing international HIV and AIDS needs, such as Viiv Healthcare, a joint venture between the pharmaceutical companies GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer (see related Beacon News).

Such collaborations have emphasized reducing discrimination related to HIV and AIDS, as well as increasing worldwide access to medical care.

For more information, please see the PhRMA Web site.