Pharmacokinetics and brain uptake of HIV-1 replication inhibitor DB213 in Sprague-Dawley rats.

•First in vivo pharmacokinetics investigation of a novel HIV-1 replication inhibitor DB213.•LC/MS/MS method for quantification of DB213 was first developed and validated.•The developed method was successfully applied in plasma pharmacokinetics and brain uptake study of DB213 in Spague-Dawley rats.•DB213 can be detected not only in plasma but also at brain with the peak brain concentration reached at 30min post intravenous dosing.