Zintevir belongs to a new class of anti-HIV drugs, the integrase inhibitors. The HIV-1 virus uses the protein integrase to incorporate its genetic material into the infected host cell. Integrase inhibitors block integrase and may stop replication of the HIV-1 virus.~In this open-label, Phase I/II study, 3 groups of HIV-positive patients (12 patients total) receive escalating doses of intravenous zintevir for 14 consecutive days.
The purpose of this study is to see if it is safe and effective to give zintevir (AR177) to asymptomatic (no symptoms) HIV-infected patients.~Zintevir belongs to a new class of anti-HIV drugs, the integrase inhibitors. HIV uses the protein integrase to infect a cell. Integrase inhibitors block integrase and may stop replication of HIV.