Zidovudine (AZT): A Cancer Drug That Became HIV's First Fighter

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Zidovudine (AZT) A Cancer Drug That Became HIV's First Fighter
Zidovudine (AZT) A Cancer Drug That Became HIV's First Fighter1024×1536 628 KB

There are many examples of repurposed drugs. One of the finest is Zidovudine or commonly AZT.

AZT was first synthesized as a potential cancer treatment. But it wasn’t until the mid-1980s that researchers discovered it could block HIV replication, by mimicking a natural DNA building block and essentially jamming the virus’s copying machinery.

It came with lots of side effects like nausea, bone marrow suppression, and anemia making it difficult for many patients to tolerate. Over the years, better-tolerated combinations replaced it, Today, it is still used in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

It is significant as it became the first FDA-approved treatment for HIV-1, proving the virus could be targeted.

Do you think that many more repurposed drugs are yet to be discovered?

MBH/PS

1 Like
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Yes. Many drugs like this which are cancer drugs, are used in other diseases like psoriasis, fibrosis of lungs and so on.

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Very informative post. Thank you for sharing.

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Absolutely, and it is an intelligent thing to do as many older drugs have known safety data, so repurposing them can save time and cost compared to developing a brand-new medicine

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It clearly shows how unpredictable science can be ! Sometimes biggest breakthrough comes like this only .