eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 0973-1245 2025-12-30 22 4 1443 1461 10.13005/bbra/3453 57111 article Nikita Vijay Parve 1 Anuja Prabhakar Gurav 1 Raksha Laxman Mhetre 1 Shashikant Nivrutti Dhole 1 Nilesh Shrikant Kulkarni 1 Department of Pharmaceutics, PES Modern College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra, India. The management of HIV has transformed significantly with the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART), turning HIV from a fatal disease into a controllable chronic condition. This review highlights the efficacy, safety, and advancements linked to different antiretroviral drugs used in HIV therapy. It analyzes the contributions of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), and integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) in attaining viral suppression, boosting immune function, and improving long-term health outcomes. Findings indicate that combination regimens—particularly those including dolutegravir, bictegravir, and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)—provide superior effectiveness and better safety profiles compared to earlier treatments. Moreover, long-acting injectable options such as cabotegravir and rilpivirine are emerging as strong alternatives to daily oral therapy, supporting improved patient adherence. Future studies are focused on advancing ART with more potent, tolerable, and durable medications to maximize treatment success and further reduce HIV transmission rates. https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol22no4/transforming-hiv-care-the-power-of-antiretroviral-drugs/ Antiretroviral therapy; Life-threatening illness; HIV; Transcriptase; Safety