protease inhibitors + reverse transcriptase inhibitors

A combination therapy composed of **protease inhibitors** and **reverse transcriptase inhibitors** is used primarily in the treatment of HIV infection. This regimen leverages two classes of antiretroviral agents: reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs), which block the HIV reverse transcriptase enzyme necessary for viral RNA to DNA conversion; and protease inhibitors (PIs), which inhibit the HIV protease enzyme essential for processing viral polyproteins into mature, infectious viral particles. Used together, this combination exerts synergistic antiviral effects, reduces viral load more efficiently, and delays the development of drug resistance compared to monotherapy. This regimen forms the basis of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)[1][3][4][5][7].