Understanding HIV Integraseinhibitor Cabotegravir (GSK1265744)

Scientists have long been interested in discovering better ways how to fight HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS. And, while this condition was once pretty much a death sentence, so to speak, the truth is that things have significantly changed nowadays, and that there are methods you can use to maintain your health and stay in good condition even if you have been infected by this virus. In other words, while it is still a  scary condition, people can live with it, and lead a good quality of life, thanks to the scientific developments that we have been witnessing in the past years and decades.

Scientists are not stopping, though. Just because they have made some discoveries regarding this, they definitely don’t think that it is time for them to, well, retire, to put it that way, and completely forget about the topic of HIV, not trying to develop better, safer and more effective solutions. And, well, this means that they are developing new drugs from time to time, and that they are interested in developing even more of them, aiming at finding great ones that will work for their patients perfectly.

The fact that the scientists are devoted and committed to this cause further means that we get to follow the scientific progresses and developments, and enjoy  new discoveries from time to time. And, well, one of the drugs that we have to learn about when it comes to this particular condition is Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor. Whether you have heard of it or not, the truth is that you are most likely interested in understanding it better, so what we are going to do right now is help you out with that. In the simplest words possible, we are going to talk about this drug in a bit more details, hoping to answer some important questions for you.

And, well, you most likely do have quite some questions on your mind. From what Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor is and how it works, to why it matters so much nowadays. No doubt that those are rather important, and that you do want to get your answers, either as a researcher yourself, or simply as someone who loves to stay in the loop with medical discoveries in general. So, let us now start answering those questions for you.

What Is HIV Integraseinhibitor Cabotegravir (GSK1265744)?

Unsurprisingly, we are going to begin with the question of what this particular drug actually is. After all, that is the most basic question, and there is absolutely no doubt that you want to have it answered before we proceed any further. That is, before we proceed towards talking about, for example, how Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor works, or why it matters so much today. Covering the basics is essential when talking about pretty much anything, and this drug is not an exception to that rule.

Well, then, let us cover the basics. What you may know already is that Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor is a drug that has been developed to fight HIV, which is, as we have mentioned above, and as you probably know already anyway, the virus that causes AIDS. It belongs to the class of integrase strand transfer inhibitors, if that is something you are interested in and want to know.

Moving on, you should also know that it can be taken orally, meaning that it can come in the form of a pill, which is quite convenient for patients. But, that is not the only form it can come in. Quite on the contrary, it can also come in the form of a long-acting injectable, which can be rather convenient as well, depending on the person. In short, it comes in those different forms, and either doctors or patients get to decide which one is best for whom.

Get an even better idea about some of the things it can do here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(17)30068-1/abstract 

How Does It Work?

The next thing you absolutely want to know is how this particular drug works. And, well, there is absolutely no doubt that you will be able to understand this quite clearly. After all, the mechanism is not that complicated. Although, it does require you to be focused and to read carefully about it, so as not to come to any kinds of wrong conclusions and assumptions. Anyway, I’m sure you’re ready to be focused, so let me give you a better idea about how Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor works exactly.

When HIV enters the human immune cell, it releases its genetic material, called RNA. Then, the virus uses certain enzymes to convert the RNA into DNA. And then, the viral DNA wants to integrate itself into the cell’s DNA, which it does with the help of the integrase enzyme. And, once it is integrated, the virus actually uses the specific cell’s machinery to produce new virus particles, the goal of which is to go and infect other cells, all of which leads in the patient’s health getting worse and worse.

Well, Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor plays an important role in all of this, because it, in a ways, stops this entire process. In simple words, it binds tightly to the active site of the HIV integrase, and thus prevents the actual strand transfer step. Meaning, therefore, that it prevents the viral DNA from attaching to the human DNA. And, since that process is blocked, the virus cannot establish itself properly, it cannot replicate, and its levels in the body get suppressed.

Why Does It Matter?

Onto the final question. Why does Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor matter so much in the first place? Well, I suppose you have some ideas about that of your own, but let me make things clear anyway.

Basically, Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) HIV integraseinhibitor is important because it interferes with the enzymes that would normally allow the virus to insert itself into the genomes of a cell, and then make copies. It is an important drug in the world of HIV research. And, in addition to being given to people who already have this virus, it is also studied to be used as pre-exposure prophylaxis, which pretty much means giving the drug to uninfected people to reduce their risk of getting infected.

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