Because NRTIs lack a 3'-hydroxyl group, once they are incorporated into the growing viral DNA strand, no further nucleotides can be added. This prematurely stops the conversion of viral RNA into DNA, preventing the virus from replicating. Commonly Used NRTIs
Clinically approved NRTIs are frequently used in combination therapies to improve efficacy and reduce the risk of drug resistance. Notable examples include: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
They compete with endogenous deoxynucleotides (like dTTP or dCTP) for binding to the viral Reverse Transcriptase (RT) enzyme . Because NRTIs lack a 3'-hydroxyl group, once they