Dideoxycytidine (ddC)

Dideoxycytidine (ddC), also known as zalcitabine, is an antiviral medication used to treat HIV. It works by blocking an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate its genetic material, preventing the virus from multiplying. ddC is a nucleoside analog, meaning it resembles one of the building blocks of DNA but lacks a key component needed for DNA chain elongation. When the virus tries to incorporate ddC into its DNA, it stops the process, reducing the amount of virus in the body. It is typically used as part of combination therapy to manage HIV infection effectively.