Zalcitabine is a potent nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in the treatment of HIV infection.
Zalcitabine is a dideoxynucleoside antiretroviral agent that is phosphorylated to the active metabolite 2',3'-dideoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate (ddCTP) within both uninfected and HIV-infected cells. At therapeutic concentrations, ddCTP inhibits HIV replication by inhibiting the enzyme reverse transcriptase and terminating elongation of the proviral DNA chain[1]. Zalcitabine exhibits the inhibition effect on the cellular uptake of [3H]-PAH in CHO/hOAT1 cells with an IC50 value of 1.23 mM. Furthermore, the cellular uptake of zalcitabine increased threefold with the enhancement of hOATI activity in CHO/hOAT1 cells[2].
References:
[1]. Adkins JC, et al. Zalcitabine. An update of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and clinical efficacy in the management of HIV infection.Drugs. 1997 Jun;53(6):1054-80
[2]. Jin MJ, et al. Interaction of zalcitabine with human organic anion transporter 1. Pharmazie. 2006 May;61(5):491-2.