Heavily-treatment-experienced people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HTE-PLWH) represent a population with limited therapeutic options and at high-risk of clinical progression, morbidity, and mortality. The development of new drugs and new drug classes for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in HTE-PLWH is critical to successfully suppress HIV-1 replication, restore the immune system, and improve quality of life. Fostemsavir is the first attachment inhibitor approved by Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. It is approved in combination with other antiretrovirals, for HTE-PLWH with multi-drug resistant HIV-1 after failing their current antiretroviral regimen due to resistance, intolerance, or safety considerations. In this review, we present and discuss the mechanism of action, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and the efficacy and safety of fostemsavir as an antiretroviral agent for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
Keywords: attachment inhibitor; drug resistance; fostemsavir; heavily treatment experienced; human immunodeficiency virus.
© 2022 Muccini et al.