(introduction...)

· abacavir, amprenavir, delavirdine, didanosine, efavirenz, indinavir, lamivudine, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir, stavudine, zalcitabine, zidovudine, and some combinations

Two of the above antiretroviral drugs, zidovudine and nevirapine, are included in the MEDL (1999). Both drugs are included solely for use in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV.

Currently available antiretroviral drugs belong to two major classes of drugs: reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors. The first group is further divided into nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. These drugs act by blocking the action of enzymes that are important for replication and functioning of HIV.

Many of the antiretroviral drugs are not covered by patent in all countries. As a result, a number of generic manufacturers in countries such as Argentina, India, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Spain, and Thailand are producing these drugs and exporting to other countries. However, some generic manufacturers, including many of the private Brazilian manufacturers, only supply their national market and do not yet have the capacity to export these products.