In 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fast-tracked the approval of zidovudine (AZT) as the first available antiviral treatment for HIV. This landmark decision marked a significant advancement in the fight against the AIDS epidemic, providing a crucial tool for managing the disease. The approval of AZT represented a turning point in HIV treatment, paving the way for further research and development of antiretroviral therapies.

The FDA's approval of AZT for HIV treatment in 1987 transformed the landscape of AIDS literature, shifting the tone from pure mourning to a complex narrative of survival and medical politics. Poets began to explore themes of medication management and the bittersweet realities of living with chronic illness.