Focus on: Atazanavir. A novel azapeptide inhibitor of HIV-1 protease (PDF)

Atazanavir is a novel azapeptide protease inhibitor (PI) that has been approved by FDA for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced HIV-infected individuals. Atazanavir has a low pill burden consisting of 2 capsules administered once daily and it has an adverse effect profile that is not associated with clinically relevant lipid effects. In clinical studies of up to 48 weeks, atazanavir demonstrated comparable antiretroviral efficacy to nelfinavir and efavirenz in treatment-naïve patients. The most common adverse effect associated with atazanavir is a reversible dose-related increase in unconjugated (indirect) bilirubin.