Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Drug profile · INN

zidovudine

zidovudine (RETROVIR) is a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Associated with ViiV Healthcare Pty Ltd. Route of administration: injection. Current US regulatory status: approved.

FDA: approved TGA: approved
US status approved
Patents linked 20
Pipeline programs 8
News articles 0
Drug details — zidovudine
US status
approved
Class
Route
INJECTION
Patents
20
Programs
8
Data quality
0.89

Quick answer

zidovudine (RETROVIR) is a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Associated with ViiV Healthcare Pty Ltd. Route of administration: injection. Current US regulatory status: approved.

Key facts

INN zidovudine
Brand RETROVIR
Mechanism Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor
Target Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase
Route INJECTION
Formulation CAPSULE

Mechanism of action

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor

Primary target: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase

Approval history

Authority Status Date
FDA approved
TGA approved

Pipeline programs

  1. D3 (Penta 21) Phase 3 · Telethon Foundation · HIV-infected
  2. Directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) Phase 3 · BRIGHT MINDS BIOSCIENCES · HIV Infections
  3. C12-48 Phase 2 · George Institute for · Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB)
  4. Gamma-retroviral vector MP71 MC2 TCR16-3D9 Phase 2 · Disc Medicine · advanced melanoma or HNSCC
  5. 221794 Phase 1 · ViiV Healthcare Pty · HIV Infections
  6. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) Approved · BRIGHT MINDS BIOSCIENCES · HIV Infection
  7. Short Cycle Antiretroviral Therapy Approved · BRIGHT MINDS BIOSCIENCES · HIV Infections
  8. The papillon study Approved · Pierre Fabre Medical · giving a commercially available vaccine to women with HIV un

Related & competitor drugs

  1. abacavir sulfate Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor
  2. efavirenz Antiinfectives for systemic use (J05)
  3. emtricitabine Antiinfectives for systemic use (J05)
  4. etravirine Antiinfectives for systemic use (J05)
  5. nevirapine Antiinfectives for systemic use (J05)
  6. tenofovir alafenamide Antiinfectives for systemic use (J05)
  1. US 12404505

    Delivery of a gene-editing system with a single retroviral particle and methods of generation and use

    Expires Mon Aug 28 2045 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  2. US 12280063

    Anti-retroviral therapies and reverse transcriptase inhibitors for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

    Expires Mon Apr 17 2045 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  3. US 11814641

    Retroviral and lentiviral vectors

    Expires Mon Nov 09 2043 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  4. US 11744831

    Antiviral JAK inhibitors useful in treating or preventing retroviral and other viral infections

    Expires Mon Aug 31 2043 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  5. US 11591613

    Retroviral and lentiviral vectors

    Expires Mon Feb 23 2043 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  6. US 11135283

    Retroviral vector for the administration and expression of replicon RNA expressing heterologous nucleic acids

    Expires Mon Sep 30 2041 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  7. US 11065254

    Antiviral JAK inhibitors useful in treating or preventing retroviral and other viral infections

    Expires Mon Jul 15 2041 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  8. US 10954530

    Retroviral and lentiviral vectors

    Expires Mon Mar 18 2041 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  9. US 10653782

    Retroviral particles expressing Sirt1 embedded within PPCN

    Expires Mon May 14 2040 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  10. US 10584356

    Multigenome retroviral vector preparations and methods and systems for producing and using same

    Expires Mon Mar 05 2040 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  11. US 10525123

    Methods for inducing an immune response against human immunodeficiency virus infection in subjects undergoing antiretroviral treatment

    Expires Mon Jan 02 2040 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  12. US 10307477

    Methods for inducing an immune response against human immunodeficiency virus infection in subjects undergoing antiretroviral treatment

    Expires Mon May 30 2039 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  13. US 10179919

    Multigenome retroviral vector preparations and methods and systems for producing and using same

    Expires Mon Jan 10 2039 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  14. US 9878002

    Compositions and methods involving endogenous retrovirus proteins

    Expires Mon Jan 25 2038 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  15. US 9677143

    Compositions and methods for the identification of inhibitors of retroviral infection

    Expires Mon Jun 08 2037 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  16. US 9249473

    Compositions and methods for the identification of inhibitors of retroviral infection

    Expires Mon Jan 28 2036 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  17. US 9163248

    Targeting pseudotyped retroviral vectors

    Expires Mon Oct 15 2035 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  18. US 8993768

    Tropolone compounds for treating or preventing retroviral infection

    Expires Mon Mar 26 2035 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  19. US 8920812

    Chimeric RSV-F polypeptide and lentivirus or alpha-retrovirus Gag-based VLPS

    Expires Mon Dec 25 2034 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted
  20. US 8680065

    Oligonucleotides of human endogenous retrovirus 9 (ERV-9) long terminal repeat (LTR) and methods of use

    Expires Mon Mar 20 2034 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

    granted

Frequently asked questions

What is zidovudine?

zidovudine (RETROVIR) is a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Associated with ViiV Healthcare Pty Ltd. Route of administration: injection. Current US regulatory status: approved.

What is the brand name for zidovudine?

RETROVIR is a marketed brand name for zidovudine. Check FDA Drugs@FDA for the current US label holder and prescribing information.

What is the US approval status of zidovudine?

zidovudine has approved status in the United States according to our Drugs@FDA-derived records. Verify on the official FDA label before clinical or commercial decisions.