a protease inhibitor drug, the first in its class to be FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV disease. Current practice favors the use of saquinavir in combination therapy (e.g., with nucleoside analog drugs) to avoid the development of drug-resistant virus.
Protease inhibitor used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV. It is available in two formulations, a hard-gel capsule called InviraseĀ®, and a soft-gel capsule called FortovaseĀ®. Also known as SQV.
Saquinavir hard-gel capsule 27 (Invirase) was the first PI approved by the FDA, in December 1995. A carboxamide derivative specifically designed to inhibit HIV proteinase and prevent post-translational formation of viral proteins, saquinavir is a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteinases without prior metabolic activation. At 12 nM concentration, saquinavir has a 50% inhibition of normal HIV, and at 11 nM it has a 50% inhibition of ZDV-resistant HIV.
Saquinavir is an antiretroviral drug used in HIV therapy. It falls in the protease inhibitor class.