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The Road to Fortovase. A History of Saquinavir, the First Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitor

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Proteases as Targets for Therapy

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 140))

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has evolved from a seemingly rare disease, first seen in small numbers of individuals in urban areas of the United States, into a worldwide epidemic. The syndrome is characterised by severe impairment of the immune system, resulting in infection by “opportunistic” pathogens and, ultimately, death. A recent joint report by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization estimates that over 30 million people (one in every 100 sexually active adults worldwide) are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS. If the current transmission rate of around 16,000 new infections every day is not reduced, this number is predicted to exceed 40 million by the year 2000.

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Redshaw, S., Roberts, N.A., Thomas, G.J. (2000). The Road to Fortovase. A History of Saquinavir, the First Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitor. In: von der Helm, K., Korant, B.D., Cheronis, J.C. (eds) Proteases as Targets for Therapy. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 140. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57092-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57092-6_1

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