Bevirimat, a derivative of the related triterpenoidbetulinic acid, is under development as an anti-HIV drug; however, moronic acid has shown better antiviral profiles in vitro than bevirimat.[4] A particular moronic acid derivative showed potent anti-HIV activity with EC50 values of 0.0085 μM against NL4-3, 0.021 μM against PI-R (a multiple protease inhibitor resistant strain), and 0.13 μM against FHR-2 (an HIV strain resistant to (bevirimat). This derivative has become a new lead for clinical trials and is also active against herpes simplex virus 1.[4]
^Rios, María Yolanda; Salinas, David; Villarreal, María Luisa (2001). "Cytotoxic Activity of Moronic Acid and Identification of the New Triterpene 3,4-seco-Olean-18-ene-3,28-dioic Acid from Phoradendron reichenbachianum". Planta Medica. 67 (5): 443–6. doi:10.1055/s-2001-15823. PMID11488459.