protease inhibitor

noun

: a substance that inhibits the action of a protease

specifically : any of various drugs (such as indinavir) that inhibit the action of the protease of HIV so that the cleavage of viral proteins into mature functional infectious particles is prevented and that are used especially in combination with other agents in the treatment of HIV infection

Examples of protease inhibitor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other ideas for treatments include using protease inhibitors to kill the virus, or stopping it from binding to the ACE2 receptors on human cells. —Michele Cohen Marill, WIRED, 28 Apr. 2020

The challenges that remain By the late 1990s, the availability of protease inhibitors led AIDS death rates in the U.S. to plummet. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024

Later that year, the F.D.A. evaluated a new protease inhibitor that was still in early-stage trials. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023

The gene’s technical name, epididymal protease inhibitor, is usually shortened to the friendlier EPPIN. —Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

protease inhibitor

noun

: a substance that inhibits the action of a protease

specifically : any of various drugs (as indinavir or saquinavir) that inhibit the action of HIV protease so that cleavage of viral proteins into mature infectious particles is prevented and that are used especially in combination with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV infection