Abacavir (ABC) is extremely potent reverse transcriptase inhibitor, meant for the treatment of AIDS. ABC is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. It has been well tolerated; main side effect being hypersensitivity reactions, which can be dangerous.

Strains that are resistant to AZT or 3TC are generally sensitive to abacavir, whereas strains that are resistant to AZT and 3TC are not as sensitive to abacavir. Abacavir is given orally and has a high bio-availability of 83 %. It is metabolised primarily through alcohol dehydrogenase or gluconyl transferase .

This drug is available under the trade name Ziagen (GlaxoSmithKline) and in a combination drug Trizivir (GlaxoSmithKline).

References

• Antiretroviral Therapy-Investigational NRTIs: HIV Clinical Management Vol. 3. Medscape Inc, 1998
• HIV Insite Antiretroviral Drug Database; UC Regents, 1999