Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)

These drugs bind close to the active site of the reverse transcriptase enzyme. Once an NNRTI is in place, reverse transcriptase is unable to use the viral RNA as a template. When reverse transcriptase is inactivated, viral DNA cannot be created for insertion into the target cell genome.

Approved drugs in this are associated with rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and significant drug interactions.