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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Paxlovid combines nirmatrelvir, an inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPro, also known as 3CL or nsp5), and ritonavir, an HIV-1 protease inhibitor and CYP3A inhibitor. 
William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 9 June 2022 But a protease is an enzyme that is involved in copying a virus’ genetic material, which meant that testing a protease inhibitor would involve using live viruses. Matthew Herper, STAT, 28 Apr. 2022 Another protease inhibitor, which needed to be given intravenously, had been put into the clinic in 2020, but its development would be discontinued in February 2022. Matthew Herper, STAT, 28 Apr. 2022 Viracept’s approval thrusts Agouron, a company with 540 employees and no sales to date, into competition with Merck, which markets Crixivan, now the best-selling protease inhibitor. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2022 Viracept became the best-selling drug in its class, called a protease inhibitor. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2022 Founded in February 2020 specifically to fight the pandemic, the company is pursuing a protease inhibitor antiviral compound called PBI-0451. Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Dec. 2021 Merck scientists haven’t looked at whether molnupiravir could work safely with Paxlovid, although the drugmaker is also developing its own protease inhibitor, Dr. Hazuda said. Felicia Schwartz, WSJ, 22 Jan. 2022 Pfizer’s oral treatment, Paxlovid, also is a protease inhibitor. Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Dec. 2021 See More
William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 9 June 2022 But a protease is an enzyme that is involved in copying a virus’ genetic material, which meant that testing a protease inhibitor would involve using live viruses. Matthew Herper, STAT, 28 Apr. 2022 Another protease inhibitor, which needed to be given intravenously, had been put into the clinic in 2020, but its development would be discontinued in February 2022. Matthew Herper, STAT, 28 Apr. 2022 Viracept’s approval thrusts Agouron, a company with 540 employees and no sales to date, into competition with Merck, which markets Crixivan, now the best-selling protease inhibitor. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2022 Viracept became the best-selling drug in its class, called a protease inhibitor. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2022 Founded in February 2020 specifically to fight the pandemic, the company is pursuing a protease inhibitor antiviral compound called PBI-0451. Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Dec. 2021 Merck scientists haven’t looked at whether molnupiravir could work safely with Paxlovid, although the drugmaker is also developing its own protease inhibitor, Dr. Hazuda said. Felicia Schwartz, WSJ, 22 Jan. 2022 Pfizer’s oral treatment, Paxlovid, also is a protease inhibitor. Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Dec. 2021 See More 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