Protease Inhibitors

Protease Inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs that are commonly used to treat HIV and hepatitis C. Protease inhibitors prevent viral replication by selectively binding to viral proteases (the enzymes that cleave viral proteins) and blocking proteolytic cleavage of protein precursors that are necessary for the production of infectious viral particles.

Mechanism of Action

Protease inhibitors act by binding to the active site of the protease enzyme, thereby preventing the cleavage of protein precursors. This results in the formation of immature non-infectious viral particles. Protease inhibitors are almost always used in combination with other antiviral drugs to increase their effectiveness and prevent the development of drug resistance.

Types of Protease Inhibitors

There are several types of protease inhibitors, including:

• HIV protease inhibitors: These are used in the treatment of HIV and include drugs such as ritonavir, lopinavir, and darunavir.
• Hepatitis C protease inhibitors: These are used in the treatment of hepatitis C and include drugs such as boceprevir, telaprevir, and simeprevir.
• Cancer protease inhibitors: These are used in the treatment of cancer and include drugs such as bortezomib and carfilzomib.

Side Effects

Like all drugs, protease inhibitors can have side effects. These can include nausea, diarrhea, and rash. In some cases, they can also cause more serious side effects such as liver damage or an increased risk of heart disease.

See Also

• Antiviral drug
• HIV
• Hepatitis C
• Protease