GW8248 is an experimental non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs).

GW8248 is being developed by GlaxoSmithKline and has been selected for clinical development based on encouraging test tube and animal data.

It is hoped that GW8248 will prove to be an effective 'new generation' NNRTI with antiviral activity against virus which is resistant to the other NNRTIs nevirapine (Viramune) and efavirenz(Sustiva). There is laboratory evidence that GW8248 can suppress HIV which is resistant to these drugs (Freeman 2003; Ramines 2003). However, due to poor drug levels after being taken by mouth, research has refocued on GW695634, a pro-drug of GW8248.

Reference

Freeman G et al. Novel benzophenone non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors with unique drug resistance profiles. Second International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment, abstract 538, 2003 (Antiviral Therapy 8 (1): S328).