Regularly reviewing the "state-of-the-art" developments in the antiviral drug research field, this latest volume spans the conceptual design and chemical synthesis of new antiviral compounds. It discusses their structure-activity relationship, mechanism and targets of action, pharmacological behavior, antiviral activity spectrum, and therapeutic potential for clinical use.

The fourth volume of Advances in Antiviral Drug Design is keeping up with the recent progress made in the broad field of antiviral drug research and encompasses six specific directions that have opened new avenues for the treatment of HIV and other virus infections.

First, as the introductory chapter, the different new anti-HIV agents that are now in preclinical or clinical development are reviewed by E. De Clercq. This includes new NRTIs, NNRTIs and PIs, but also HIV entry/fusion inhibitors as well as integrase inhibitors, and some of these agents, such as the NRTI emtricitabine ...