Raltegravir is an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) used in combination with other antiretroviral medicines for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. It was the first drug of the integrase inhibitor class to receive FDA approval and is marketed as raltegravir potassium.
The pharmaceutical API is raltegravir potassium, CAS No. 871038-72-1, with the molecular formula C20H20FKN6O5 and molecular weight 482.51 g/mol. The potassium salt is the form used in marketed raltegravir products such as Isentress.
Raltegravir is a synthetic small-molecule antiviral API belonging to the HIV integrase inhibitor class. The active pharmaceutical form is generally supplied as raltegravir potassium.
Raltegravir inhibits HIV-1 integrase, an essential viral enzyme responsible for integrating viral DNA into the host-cell genome. By inhibiting the strand-transfer step of viral DNA integration, raltegravir prevents productive HIV replication.
Raltegravir itself is the free phenolic active moiety, while raltegravir potassium is its monopotassium salt. The marketed 400 mg tablet contains 434.4 mg raltegravir potassium equivalent to 400 mg raltegravir.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Raltegravir Potassium |
| Active Moiety | Raltegravir |
| Synonym | MK-0518 |
| CAS Number | 871038-72-1 |
| Free Raltegravir CAS | 518048-05-0 |
| Molecular Formula | C20H20FKN6O5 |
| Molecular Weight | 482.51 g/mol |
| PubChem CID | 23668479 |
| Free Raltegravir CID | 54671008 |
| UNII – Active Moiety | 22VKV8053U |
| Drug Class | HIV-1 Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor |
| Therapeutic Class | Antiretroviral / Antiviral |
| Therapeutic Area | HIV / Infectious Diseases |
| API Type | Synthetic small-molecule API |
| Salt Form | Monopotassium salt |
| Stereochemistry | Achiral |
PubChem reports raltegravir potassium as C20H20FKN6O5 with a molecular weight of 482.5 g/mol and CAS 871038-72-1.
The current DailyMed labeling identifies the pharmaceutical substance as raltegravir potassium and gives the molecular weight as 482.51 g/mol. (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov)
Raltegravir belongs to the HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) class of antiretroviral medicines.
It inhibits HIV integrase, which is required for insertion of viral DNA into the DNA of infected human cells. Raltegravir is administered as part of combination antiretroviral therapy rather than as monotherapy. (pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Raltegravir selectively inhibits the catalytic activity of HIV-1 integrase.
Following reverse transcription of HIV RNA, the resulting viral DNA must be integrated into the host-cell genome for productive infection. Raltegravir binds to the integrase active site and inhibits the strand-transfer reaction required for viral DNA integration.
This results in:
Raltegravir therefore acts at a stage of the HIV replication cycle distinct from reverse-transcriptase and protease inhibitors. (pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Raltegravir potassium is primarily used as an antiretroviral API.
Documented pharmaceutical applications include:
WHO lists raltegravir among antiretroviral medicines in the integrase inhibitor class, including oral tablet and oral-suspension formulations.
Current U.S. labeling includes film-coated tablets, chewable tablets and granules for oral suspension, with dosing dependent on formulation and patient population.
Raltegravir potassium is a synthetic small-molecule API for which pharmacopoeial quality-control procedures are available.
Appropriate analytical characterization may include:
The USP monograph identifies IR spectroscopy and chromatographic retention time as identification procedures. Its assay uses liquid chromatography with UV detection at 220 nm.
The USP chromatographic system specifies an L11 column, 4.6 mm × 15 cm, 3.5 µm, with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and column temperature of 15°C. System suitability includes a tailing factor of NMT 1.5 and relative standard deviation of NMT 1.0%.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | white to off-white crystalline powder |
| Identification | IR & HPLC compliant |
| Assay (HPLC) | 98.0% – 102.0% |
| Loss on Drying | NMT 0.5% |
| Residue on Ignition | NMT 0.1% |
| Individual Impurity | NMT 0.10% |
| Total Impurities | NMT 0.50% |
| Water Content | NMT 0.6%. |