The suffix '-navir' is associated with which type of drug?

• A. Protease inhibitors
• B. Macrolide antibiotics
• C. Anticoagulants
• D. Antihistamines

Answer: (A)

Drug name endings often signal their class. The suffix -navir is used for HIV protease inhibitors, a group of antiretroviral drugs that block the HIV protease enzyme needed to process viral proteins and produce mature, infectious particles. This disruption of viral maturation helps prevent the virus from replicating effectively. Examples include ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, and darunavir. In contrast, macrolide antibiotics end with -mycin or -micin, anticoagulants like heparin end with -parin or warfarin with -arin, and antihistamines often end with -dine or -ine. Therefore, the suffix -navir points to protease inhibitors.