HIV protease inhibitors: peptidomimetic drugs and future perspectives.

A literature review on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This review includes its life cycle, HIV protease structure, function, and substrates, as well as the mechanism and the design of inhibitors including the clinically approved drugs. Moreover the review mentioned the problems that hindered the development of peptidomimetic drug candidates as HIV protease inhibitors and the different approaches used by medicinal chemists to overcome these problems.