Definition

A protease inhibitor used against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Lopinavir competitively inhibits the HIV-1 protease, an enzyme that mediates the cleavage of Gag, Gag-Pol and Nef precursor polypeptides into their mature proteins, including protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase. Inhibition of HIV-1 protease prevents cleavage of the viral polyprotein precursor and results in the release of immature, noninfectious virions.