AZT

DDI

DDC

DRUGS THAT FIGHT AIDS

AZT, DDI, AND DDC

DRUGS THAT FIGHT HIV

Michael W. Davidson, a molecular biophysicist at Florida State University who took the photomicrographs shown on the reverse of his card, describes the three drugs most often used to treat AIDS:

"AZT, RETROVIR, AND ZIDOVUDINE are the common names for the hemical 3'-azidothymidine, the best drug yet found in prolonging he lives of people with AIDS. AZT acts by interrupting the process y which the HIV virus infects cells. The drug binds strongly to an nzyme produced by the virus and interferes with construction of iral DNA. AZT holds the record in winning approval for use in umans by the Food and Drug Administration-3/2 months.

"DDI, DIDANOSINE, AND VIDEX are the common names for the hemical 2'-3'-dideoxyinosine, the second drug approved by the DA for fighting the AIDS virus. DDI is similar to AZT in that it nimics a DNA building block and stops the viral enzyme that eproduces viral genes. Unlike AZT, DDI doesn't cause the severe nemia that makes some patients unable to tolerate AZT. Initially it was thought DDI might have no harmful effects; but it is now known hat some patients suffer painful headaches and pancreatitis.

"DDC, HIVID, AND ZALCITABINE are the common names for the hemical 2'-3'-dideoxycytidine, the third antiviral agent approved for he treatment of patients with HIV infection. It is also the first drug to each the market through the FDA's "accelerated approval process," hich was prompted by the epidemic's urgency. Like its cousins, ZT and DDI, DDC works by inhibiting the viral enzyme that builds NA. Currently, DDC is administered only in combination with AZT.” These toxic drugs don't cure AIDS, but they may delay fatalities. Next Card 72: DYING OF AIDS: Opportunistic Infections