Used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection, as well as postexposure prophylaxis of HIV infection in individuals who have had occupational or nonoccupational exposure to potentially infectious body fluids of a person known to be infected with HIV when that exposure represents a substantial risk for HIV transmission.
Atazanavir selectively inhibits the virus-specific processing of viral Gag and Gag-Pol polyproteins in HIV-1 infected cells by binding to the active site of HIV-1 protease, thus preventing the formation of mature virions. Atazanavir is not active against HIV-2.
Atazanavir is rapidly absorbed with a T<sub>max</sub> of approximately 2.5 hours. Administration of atazanavir with food enhances bioavailability and reduces pharmacokinetic variability. Oral bioavailability is 60-68%.
Elimination half-life in adults (healthy and HIV infected) is approximately 7 hours (following a 400 mg daily dose with a light meal). Elimination half-life in hepatically impaired is 12.1 hours (following a single 400 mg dose).