How does atazanavir work?
To explain how atazanavir works as a protease inhibitor, we need to first tell you some information about HIV. When HIV infects a cell, it takes control of that cell. HIV then forces the cell to make many more copies of the virus. In order to make these copies, the cell uses proteins called enzymes. When the activity of these enzymes is reduced or blocked, production of HIV slows or stops. Atazanavir belongs to a group or class of drugs called protease inhibitors. Atazanavir interferes with an enzyme called protease, which is used by HIV-infected cells to make new viruses. Since atazanavir inhibits, or reduces the activity of this enzyme, this drug causes HIV-infected cells to produce fewer viruses.
