Enfuvirtide
Also known as: Fuzeon, T-20
Enfuvirtide binds the HR1 region of the HIV-1 gp41 envelope subunit and blocks the six-helix bundle conformational change required for fusion of the viral and host cell membranes.
- Drug class
- HIV-1 gp41 fusion inhibitor (antiretroviral)
- Primary targets
- HIV-1 gp41 HR1 (N-terminal heptad repeat), viral envelope glycoprotein gp41
- Dose reference
- Per FDA label (reference only, not a recommendation): adults 90 mg subcutaneously twice daily; pediatric patients 2 mg/kg twice daily up to a 90 mg maximum.
- Half-life
- Approximately 3.8 hours (mean 3.8 ± 0.6 h after a single 90 mg subcutaneous dose, per FDA label)
- Developer / origin
- Discovered at Trimeris; co-developed with Hoffmann-La Roche; marketed by Genentech (Roche Group) and Roche
- Reference year
- 2003
- Evidence score
- 4/5 - Strong randomized-trial evidence for the approved indication
Approved uses
- Treatment of HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents in treatment-experienced patients with evidence of HIV-1 replication despite ongoing antiretroviral therapy
Strong randomized-trial evidence for the approved indication
Two pivotal 24-week randomized controlled trials (TORO 1 and TORO 2, ~1,000 treatment-experienced patients) showed adding enfuvirtide to an optimized background regimen roughly doubled the odds of achieving undetectable HIV-1 RNA and improved CD4 gains, supporting its 2003 FDA accelerated approval; evidence is limited to add-on use in treatment-experienced populations over short follow-up, and resistance arises rapidly without a suppressive companion regimen.
Investigational compound with human randomized or phase 2/3 evidence.
Evidence basis
- FDA-approved label with defined indication and pharmacokinetics
- TORO 1 randomized controlled trial published in NEJM 2003
- TORO 2 randomized controlled trial
- Peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic study establishing 3.8 h half-life
- Independent review articles and NIH resources
Key references
- New England Journal of Medicine, 2003Enfuvirtide, an HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitor, for Drug-Resistant HIV Infection in North and South America (TORO 1)
- U.S. FDAFuzeon (enfuvirtide) for Injection, Highlights of Prescribing Information
- PubMedThe safety, plasma pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of subcutaneous enfuvirtide (T-20)
How to read this entry
Dose references and half-life values are pulled from trial protocols, labels, reviews, or published summaries where available. They are context for research and comparison, not a personal dosing recommendation.
Status matters: approved drugs have regulated indications; investigational compounds are still being studied; research-only peptides do not have established human dosing, safety, or efficacy for consumer use.
Enfuvirtide guides
Read the matching guide or adjacent research pages for more context.
Peptide calculators
Use calculators for concentration, unit conversion and repeated-dose accumulation math.
Compare with related peptides
Stay inside the same research category and compare mechanism, status and evidence quality.
Larazotide
Larazotide acetate, AT-1001
An oral, gut-restricted peptide that antagonizes zonulin signaling to limit gluten-driven intestinal tight-junction permeability in celiac disease.
Lanreotide
Somatuline Depot, Somatuline Autogel
Lanreotide binds with high affinity to somatostatin receptors 2 and 5, mimicking native somatostatin to suppress growth hormone, IGF-1 and various neuroendocrine and gut hormones.
Teriparatide
Forteo, Bonsity, PTH 1-34
Once-daily injection produces intermittent activation of the PTH1 receptor on osteoblasts, preferentially stimulating bone formation over resorption to increase bone mass.
Abaloparatide
Tymlos
Abaloparatide is a PTHrP(1-34) analog that agonizes the PTH1 receptor with preference for its transient RG conformation, activating cAMP signaling to stimulate osteoblast-driven new bone formation.