Lamivudine: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Lamivudine(2'-3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine, 3TC) is a potent reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It can inhibit both types (1 and 2) of HIV reverse transcriptase and also the reverse transcriptase of hepatitis B. It needs to be phosphorylated to its triphosphate form before it is active. 3TC-triphosphate also inhibits cellular DNA polymerase.

Lamivudine is administered orally, and it is rapidly absorbed with a bio-availability of over 80%. Some researches suggest that lamivudine can cross the blood-brain barrier. Lamivudine is often given in combination with zidovudine, with which it is highly synergistic. Lamivudine treatment has been shown to restore zidovudine sensitivity of previously resistant HIV. Several mutagenicity tests show that lamivudine should not show mutagenic activity in therapeutical doses.