Protease Inhibitor (Noun)
Meaning
An antiviral drug used against HIV; interrupts HIV replication by binding and blocking HIV protease; often used in combination with other drugs.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- Researchers have developed protease inhibitors, a class of antiviral drugs that effectively disrupt the replication cycle of HIV by binding to the viral protease enzyme.
- Saquinavir, a commonly prescribed protease inhibitor, reduces HIV replication when used together with other antiretroviral medications in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
- Doctors typically combine multiple drugs with protease inhibitors to reduce the likelihood of the virus becoming resistant.
- Protease inhibitors like lopinavir and ritonavir have been life-changing for people living with HIV by making the viral load undetectable and allowing them to live long and relatively healthy lives.
- The discovery of protease inhibitors marked a significant breakthrough in the treatment of HIV, enabling treatment to be shifted from alleviating symptoms to directly targeting the viral replication process.