How Do Hiv Protease Inhibitors Work

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Protease Inhibitors in Development

These drugs have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use against HIV. Protease Inhibitors These drugs block the protease enzyme. When new viral particles break off from an infected cell, protease cuts long protein strands into the parts needed to assemble a mature virus. When protease is blocked, the new viral particles cannot mature. Protease Inhibitors in Development Several firms are trying to develop a new...

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How do protease inhibitors work?

I was wondering how a protease inhibitor acts on the protease of HIV. What does this protease enzyme do that it needs to bestopped?...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

Protease is an enzyme that cleaves precursor proteins into their final products during or shortly after the budding of the newly formed virus particle from an infected cell. If the proteins necessary for making new virus particles cannot be... Read more »

Why switch my protease inhibitor when it's working?

Dear Doc,My HIV specialist has suggested I consider changing the protease inhibitor in my regimen. I have been taking Kaletra (with Epzicom) since my diagnosis in late 2005. Most recent blood work shows undetectable virus and 802 T-cells. I take...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

The only reason to switch, particularly to reyataz, would be a more favorable lipid profile. In other words, reyataz doesn't raise lipids as much as kaletra so you might not have to take the tricor. Other than that, I see know reason to change... Read more »

Protease Inhibitors - Do They Work?

My lover has been HIV possitive for the last six years. On his last Doctor's appointment his T-Cell Count was way down. He is the healthiest he has ever been, feels great, but has been under some stress as of the last few months. Could this...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

The reason for the optimism surrounding protease inhibitors is that they work very well, and the more we learn about them, the more enthusiastic we become. Data from the Vancouver conference clearly show that the protease inhibitors notonly produce... Read more »

HIV protease inhibitors

Could you tell me the spectrum of activity and the mechanism of resistance for the antimicrobial HIV protease inhibitors (Ex: Indinavir)and do they work with gram positve/gram negative bacteria. What bacteria does it work against. Or what sites I...

Response from Eric Daar, M.D.

UCLA School of Medicine

The HIV protease inhibitor selectively blocks the protease enzyme and prevents an infected cell from producing infectious HIV. Resistance develops when mutations emerge in the viral protease enzyme that prevent the inhibitor from interacting with... Read more »

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lipodystrophy from protease inhibitors

Posted by Anonymous, 4 Replies

I have known about my HIV+ status now for 6 years, and God has blessed me with continued good health. I have accessed all the major medications, plus vitamins to help fight the disease. Once I started taking the new protease inhibitors, I started... Read more »

Protease Inhibitors - Hemophilia bleeds

Posted by akcol

Hi, my fiance is a Long Term NonProgressor - 24 years positive, co-infection HCV, with severe Hemophilia A.

This is a question for the gentlemen with Hemophilia please.
We're requesting any input about any Hemophilic PI increased unusual bleed... Read more »

Abbott pharmaceuticals price gouging protease inh

Posted by BabyPeanut

Editorial, The Center for AIDS (12/15/03)

In a move that startled healthcare professionals and community members alike, Abbott pharmaceuticals announced a price increase of almost 500% for its protease inhibitor ritonavir (Norvir). Norvir is widely... Read more »

bone density loss due to protease inhibitors

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Curious as to latest info. on research into bone density loss due to HAART therapy. Most research data i've seen goes back to 99 or 2000. Any new data/research into this? Also any info. on clinical trials currently under way looking into this... Read more »

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