CCR5 antagonists and HIV-1 infection: Bases and consequences of this therapeutic approach

CCR5 molecule is a chemokine receptor with an important role in infectious diseases; not only is it the main coreceptor for HIV-1, but it has also been involved in the immune defense against various transmissible agents. CCR5 antagonists constitute a new class of antiretrovirals. Three molecules of this class have reached phases 2B and 3 of clinical development: aplaviroc (GlaxoSmithKine), vicriviroc (Schering-Plough) and maraviroc (Pfizer). The development of aplaviroc was stopped because of some cases of drug-induced hepatitis. In ACTG 5211 and Motivate trials, adding vicriviroc (in phase 3 trials) or maraviroc (now approved for clinical use) respectively to an optimized background regimen in treatment-experienced patients has resulted in a significant virologic benefit. The place of this new therapeutic class in strategies of initial, switch or rescue treatment needs further investigation, and its interest in immunological non-responders, in severe immunosuppressed patients or in subjects harbouring non-R5 HIV-1 strains, remains to be addressed. Major concerns about their use still remain, including long-term tolerability, the risk of inducing an R5 to X4 switch, particularly in compartments other than blood, and the risk of interfering with some immune responses. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.