Discontinued drugs in 2007: anti-infectives.

Twelve drugs related to therapy and/or prevention of infectious diseases were discontinued from development during 2007. All of these agents were aimed at viral infections, primarily hepatitis C virus (six agents) and HIV (five agents). Nearly half were vaccines, including three against HIV, a therapeutic vaccine for hepatitis C, and a vaccine for prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus type 2. Each of these agents is briefly reviewed and the reasons for failure are discussed.