In 2000 Hazuda and her team published two landmark papers showing that integrase inhibitors could be made.

FORBES: Innovation

GlaxoSmithKline and Merck have both attempted to develop integrase inhibitors, which inhibit the viral DNA from integrating with human DNA. But their drugs have failed in trials due to problems with toxicity and other issues.

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GlaxoSmithKline (nyse: GSK - news - people ) and Merck (nyse: MRK - news - people ) have both attempted to develop integrase inhibitors, which inhibit the viral DNA from integrating with human DNA. But their drugs have failed in trials due to problems with toxicity and other issues.

FORBES: Gilead's Half-Empty Pipeline

"Very senior management said I should stop working on integrase and start working on CCR5 inhibitors, " Hazuda says.

FORBES: Innovation