Despite advances in HIV treatment and the availability of 22 approved antiretroviral drugs, newer compounds are needed that are better tolerated, less toxic, more convenient, or have improved activity against drug-resistant viruses. In addition to newer agents in development in traditional antiretroviral classes (reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors), a number of compounds in newer mechanistic classes also are under development, including entry inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and maturation inhibitors. This review focuses on some of the investigational antiretroviral compounds that have reached clinical development and that offer the most promise for treatment of HIV-infected individuals.
