emtricitabine

Emtricitabine is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in adults, children, and infants. It is also used as part of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimens to prevent HIV-1 infection in high-risk individuals when combined with other drugs such as tenofovir. Emtricitabine is a synthetic cytidine analogue that, once phosphorylated intracellularly to its active triphosphate form, inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by competing with the natural substrate deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate. This results in premature termination of viral DNA chain elongation and prevents transcription of viral RNA into DNA, thereby reducing viral replication and load. Emtricitabine also has activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV), making it useful for patients co-infected with HIV and HBV[1][2][3][5][6]. Developed by Gilead Sciences.

Brand names

Emtriva

Other names

emtricitabine