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emtricitabine

A synthetic fluoro derivative of thiacytidine with potent antiviral activity. Emtricitabine is phosphorylated to form emtricitabine 5'-triphosphate within the cell. This metabolite inhibits the activity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase both by competing with the natural substrate deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate and by incorporation into viral DNA causing a termination of DNA chain elongation (due to the lack of the essential 3'-OH group).

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Synonym:	coviracil FTC
US brand name:	Emtriva
Chemical structure:	(-)-2'-deoxy-5-fluoro-3'-thiacytidine 2(1H)-pyrimidinone, 4-amino-5-fluoro-1-(2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl)-,(2R-cis)-

emtricitabine

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