Abbott HIV-1 protease inhibitor

Abbott's A-74704 "inhibits both protease activity and acute HIV-1 infection in vitro," company scientists John Erickson and colleagues report in the Aug. 3 issue of Science. Abbott says its protease inhibitor's symmetrical shape differs from other agents under study. Since the active site of HIV protease also has a symmetrical molecular structure, "symmetrical protease inhibitors should be able to effectively 'lock' into the active site of HIV protease," Abbott says. Merck, Upjohn, and SmithKline are among other firms developing protease inhibitors.