nelfinavir
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A synthetic antiviral drug belonging to the class of protease inhibitors, used in the treatment of HIV infection. It is typically administered as part of a combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen to suppress viral replication.
Usage
Nelfinavir is used as a medication. It is prescribed by a doctor and taken orally. * The doctor added nelfinavir to the patient's existing drug regimen. * Clinical trials studied the effectiveness of nelfinavir in combination with other antiretrovirals.
Advanced Usage
- Pharmacology: In technical medical contexts, nelfinavir is described as inhibiting the HIV-1 protease enzyme, preventing the cleavage of viral polyproteins and thus halting the production of mature, infectious viral particles.
- Resistance: The term is used when discussing viral evolution, e.g., "The HIV strain developed resistance to nelfinavir."
Variants and Related Words
- Protease Inhibitor (PI): The class of antiretroviral drugs to which nelfinavir belongs.
- Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): The standard treatment for HIV infection, which often includes drugs like nelfinavir.
- Trade Name: Viracept: The brand name under which nelfinavir was originally marketed.
Synonyms
- Protease inhibitor (specific to this drug)
- Antiretroviral drug (general category)
Notes
This is a specialized pharmaceutical term with no common idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it. Its usage is confined to medical, pharmacological, and healthcare contexts.
Noun
- a protease inhibitor (trade name Viracept) used in treating HIV usually in combination with other drugs