What is the Role of Viral Enzymes in Drug Development?
Viral enzymes are prime targets for antiviral drugs. Inhibitors designed to block the activity of these enzymes can effectively halt viral replication. For instance, HIV protease inhibitors are a class of drugs that prevent the maturation of viral particles, thus stopping the virus from becoming infectious. Similarly, neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza prevent the virus from spreading to other cells, underscoring the importance of viral enzyme targeting in therapeutic strategies.
