In the last step of the viral replication cycle, HIV protease cleaves the immature viral polyproteins into the structural and functional proteins needed to build and mature new virus particles. Since viral proteases and cellular proteases are diverse, the enzyme is an excellent selective antiretroviral drug target. Inhibitors of HIV protease are potent inhibitors of HIV and are an integral part of today's established treatment regimens. Tibotec's protease inhibitor darunavir is being commercialized around the world.



Tibotec scientists continue to unravel the mechanisms involved in wild-type and mutant HIV protease activity in order to identify superior future inhibitors.