. Are antagonists for CCR5 currently used as treatment for HIV? If yes, name a specific drug and its method of action. If no, what are the primary reasons it is not?
Yes. Maraviroc is still used for the treatment of HIV.
CCR5 are presnt on the surface of human T-lymphocytes; gp120 present on the surface of virus attaches to this CCR5 receptor, this association between the virus and and human cells helps the virus to enter the cell leading to infection. The drug, Maraviroc binds to the CCR5 preventing te virus to interact with the human -lymohocytes, preventing viral invasion and thus infection.
Even though Maraviroc is marketed by Pfizer and is FDA approved, it has been black boxed due to its life threatening side effects
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