SAQUINAVIR

US Previously Marketed

Details

Stereochemistry	ABSOLUTE
Molecular Formula	C38H50N6O5
Molecular Weight	670.8408
Optical Activity	UNSPECIFIED
Defined Stereocenters	6 / 6
E/Z Centers	0
Charge	0

SHOW SMILES / InChI

Structure Search

SMILES

CC(C)(C)NC(=O)[C@@H]1C[C@@H]2CCCC[C@@H]2CN1C[C@@H](O)[C@H](CC3=CC=CC=C3)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(N)=O)NC(=O)C4=CC=C5C=CC=CC5=N4

InChI

InChIKey=QWAXKHKRTORLEM-UGJKXSETSA-N

InChI=1S/C38H50N6O5/c1-38(2,3)43-37(49)32-20-26-14-7-8-15-27(26)22-44(32)23-33(45)30(19-24-11-5-4-6-12-24)41-36(48)31(21-34(39)46)42-35(47)29-18-17-25-13-9-10-16-28(25)40-29/h4-6,9-13,16-18,26-27,30-33,45H,7-8,14-15,19-23H2,1-3H3,(H2,39,46)(H,41,48)(H,42,47)(H,43,49)/t26-,27+,30-,31-,32-,33+/m0/s1

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Molecular Formula	C38H50N6O5
Molecular Weight	670.8408
Charge	0
Count

Stereochemistry	ABSOLUTE
Additional Stereochemistry	No
Defined Stereocenters	6 / 6
E/Z Centers	0
Optical Activity	UNSPECIFIED

Description
Sources: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/021785s001,002,020828s019,020,020628s022,023lbl.pdf
Curator's Comment: description was created based on several sources, including https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01232 | http://reference.medscape.com/drug/invirase-saquinavir-342628 | https://www.drugs.com/cdi/saquinavir.html | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20950334

Saquinavir (brand names Invirase and Fortovase) is an antiretroviral drug used together with other medications to treat or prevent HIV/AIDS. Saquinavir is an inhibitor of HIV protease. HIV protease is an enzyme required for the proteolytic cleavage of viral polyprotein precursors into individual functional proteins found in infectious HIV. Saquinavir is a peptide-like substrate analog that binds to the protease active site and inhibits the activity of the enzyme. Saquinavir inhibition prevents cleavage of the viral polyproteins resulting in the formation of immature noninfectious virus particles. The most frequent adverse events with saquinavir in either formulation are mild gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, loose stools & abdominal discomfort. Invirase is better tolerated than Fortovase.

CNS Activity

Originator

Approval Year

Targets

Primary Target	Pharmacology	Potency
Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 pol protein 2 Target ID: CHEMBL5074 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8360874	Inhibitor 8504	0.5 nM [IC50]
Protease 7 Target ID: CHEMBL2366517 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20108932	Inhibitor 8504	0.4 nM [IC50]
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease 36 Target ID: CHEMBL243 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17964171	Inhibitor 8504	0.4 nM [IC50]

Conditions

Condition	Modality	Targets	Highest Phase	Product
HIV infection 21 Sources: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/021785s001,002,020828s019,020,020628s022,023lbl.pdf	Primary		Approved 8583	FORTOVASE Approved Use INDICATIONS & USAGE INVIRASE in combination with ritonavir and other antiretroviral agents is indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults (over the age of 16 years). The following points should be considered when initiating therapy with INVIRASE: – The twice daily administration of INVIRASE in combination with ritonavir is supported by safety data from the MaxCmin 1 trial [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) Launch Date 1997

AUC

Value	Dose	Co-administered	Analyte	Population
21747 ng × h/mL DRUG LABEL https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/021785s001,002,020828s019,020,020628s022,023lbl.pdf	1200 mg 3 times / day steady-state, oral dose: 1200 mg route of administration: Oral experiment type: STEADY-STATE co-administered:		SAQUINAVIR plasma	Homo sapiens population: UNHEALTHY age: UNKNOWN sex: UNKNOWN food status: UNKNOWN

Doses

Dose	Population	Adverse events
1000 mg 2 times / day multiple, oral Recommended Dose: 1000 mg, 2 times / day Route: oral Route: multiple Dose: 1000 mg, 2 times / day Sources: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/020628s034-021785s011lbl.pdf	unhealthy, adult Health Status: unhealthy Age Group: adult Sources: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/020628s034-021785s011lbl.pdf	Other AEs: Diabetes mellitus, Lipodystrophy... Other AEs: Diabetes mellitus (3%) Lipodystrophy (5%) Nausea (11%) Vomiting (7%) Diarrhea (8%) Abdominal pain (6%) Constipation (2%) Fatigue (6%) Fever (3%) Back pain (2%) Pneumonia (5%) Bronchitis (3%) Influenza (3%) Sinusitis (3%) Rash (3%) Pruritus (3%) Dry lips (2%) Eczema (2%) Sources: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/020628s034-021785s011lbl.pdf
1600 mg 1 times / day multiple, oral Dose: 1600 mg, 1 times / day Route: oral Route: multiple Dose: 1600 mg, 1 times / day Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16926775/	unhealthy, adult Health Status: unhealthy Age Group: adult Sex: M+F Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16926775/	Other AEs: Nausea, Vomiting... Other AEs: Nausea (22.2%) Vomiting (6.2%) Diarrhea (4.9%) Abdominal pain (2.5%) Diarrhea aggravated (2.5%) Esophageal reflux (2.5%) Fatigue (2.5%) Dizziness (excl vertigo) (1.2%) Dermatitis (1.2%) Decreased appetite (3.7%) Headache (2.5%) Insomnia (1.2%) Weakness (2.5%) Depression (2.5%) Anxiety (1.2%) Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16926775/

AEs

Overview

CYP3A4	CYP2C9	CYP2D6	hERG
substrate 1946 inhibitor 2252	inhibitor 2438	inhibitor 2507	inhibitor 2217

OverviewOther

Other Inhibitor	Other Substrate	Other Inducer
CYP1A2 2153 CYP2E1 1060 CYP3A5 136 CYP3A7 7 CYP2C8 1057 OATP1B1 1079 OATP1B3 961 OATP2B1 157 BCRP 910 OCT1 620 UGT1A1 246 UGT1A3 89 UGT1A4 98 UGT1A6 136 UGT1A9 148 UGT2B7 197	CYP3A5 446 P-gp 2052 OATP1A2 67

Drug as perpetrator

Target	Modality	Activity
UGT1A6 171	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16118329/ Page: 5.0	little [IC50 >100 uM]
UGT1A9 155	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16118329/ Page: 5.0	little [IC50 >100 uM]
UGT2B7 210	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16118329/ Page: 5.0	little [IC50 >100 uM]
CYP1A2 2333	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2042821/ Page: 3.0	negligible [IC50 >100 uM]
CYP2E1 1146	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2042821/ Page: 3.0	negligible [IC50 >100 uM]
CYP3A7 22	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1742-7843.2006.pto_249.x	weak [Ki 1.8 uM]
CYP2C8 1117	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17361129/	yes [IC50 1.8 uM]
UGT1A1 303	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16118329/ Page: 5.0	yes [IC50 13 uM]
OATP1B1 1095	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/32186/ Page: 5.0	yes [IC50 2.1 uM]
CYP3A4 2633	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2042821/ Page: 3.0	yes [IC50 2.14 uM]
BCRP 985	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17202245/	yes [IC50 27.4 uM]
OATP1B3 970	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/32186/ Page: 5.0	yes [IC50 4.1 uM]
OATP2B1 162	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/32186/ Page: 12.0	yes [IC50 5.3 uM]
UGT1A3 99	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16118329/ Page: 5.0	yes [IC50 5.5 uM]
CYP2C9 2497	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2042821/ Page: 3.0	yes [IC50 54 uM]
UGT1A4 100	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16118329/ Page: 5.0	yes [IC50 8 uM]
OCT1 656	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10681378/	yes [IC50 8.3 uM]
CYP3A5 201	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1742-7843.2006.pto_249.x	yes [Ki 0.6 uM]
CYP2D6 2546	inhibitor 4027 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9758674/ Page: 3.0	yes [Ki 24 uM]

Drug as victim

Target	Modality	Activity	Clinical evidence
OATP1A2 67	substrate 4014 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10421612/; https://transportal.compbio.ucsf.edu/compounds/saquinavir/ Page: 5.0	yes [IC50 <10 uM]
CYP3A5 446	substrate 4014 Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1884607/	yes
P-gp 2052	substrate 4014 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9732409/	yes
CYP3A4 1946	substrate 4014 Sources: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/021785s001,002,020828s019,020,020628s022,023lbl.pdf#page=13 Page: 13,19	yes	yes (co-administration study) Comment: Coadministration with ritonavir (CYP3A4 inhibitor): mean saquinavir AUC value was seven fold greater than mean value observed after administration of saquinavir alone. Sources: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/021785s001,002,020828s019,020,020628s022,023lbl.pdf#page=13 Page: 13,19

Tox targets

Target	Modality	Activity	Metabolite	Clinical evidence
hERG 2263	inhibitor 2237 Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15721475/ Page: 3.0

Sourcing

Vendor/Aggregator	ID	URL
ChEBI	CHEBI:63621	https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chebi/searchId.do?chebiId=CHEBI:63621
ChemicalBook	CB2161048	https://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB2161048
eMolecules	27523858	https://www.emolecules.com/cgi-bin/more?vid=27523858
eMolecules	30512889	https://www.emolecules.com/cgi-bin/more?vid=30512889
MolPort	MolPort-000-883-824	https://www.molport.com/shop/molecule-link/MolPort-000-883-824
ZINC	ZINC000003914596	http://zinc15.docking.org/substances/ZINC000003914596

PubMed

Title	Date	PubMed
Saquinavir soft gelatin capsule: a comparative safety review.	2001	11347724
Comparison of P-triglyceride levels among patients with human immunodeficiency virus on randomized treatment with ritonavir, indinavir or ritonavir/saquinavir.	2001	11345223
Generation of a flexible cell line with regulatable, high-level expression of HIV Gag/Pol particles capable of packaging HIV-derived vectors.	2001 Apr	11319923
Impact of HIV type 1 protease, reverse transcriptase, cleavage site, and p6 mutations on the virological response to quadruple therapy with saquinavir, ritonavir, and two nucleoside analogs.	2001 Apr 10	11350662
Differences in the intracellular accumulation of HIV protease inhibitors in vitro and the effect of active transport.	2001 Apr 13	11371681
Determination of serum levels of thirteen human immunodeficiency virus-suppressing drugs by high-performance liquid chromatography.	2001 Apr 13	11355843
Determination of interaction kinetic constants for HIV-1 protease inhibitors using optical biosensor technology.	2001 Apr 15	11401294
High prevalence of genotypic and phenotypic HIV-1 drug-resistant strains among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.	2001 Apr 15	11391173
A phase II trial of dual protease inhibitor therapy: amprenavir in combination with indinavir, nelfinavir, or saquinavir.	2001 Apr 15	11391165
[Improving the pharmacokinetics of protease inhibitors in a more innovative manner. HIV drugs administered in a more clever way].	2001 Apr 2	11373769
Antiretrovirals: simultaneous determination of five protease inhibitors and three nonnucleoside transcriptase inhibitors in human plasma by a rapid high-performance liquid chromatography--mass spectrometry assay.	2001 Aug	11477320
Pharmacokinetics and resistance mutations affect virologic response to ritonavir/saquinavir-containing regimens.	2001 Aug	11477313
Antiviral drugs: current state of the art.	2001 Aug	11418355
Comparison of virologic, immunologic, and clinical response to five different initial protease inhibitor-containing and nevirapine-containing regimens.	2001 Aug 1	11468423
Steady-state pharmacokinetics of twice-daily dosing of saquinavir plus ritonavir in HIV-1-infected individuals.	2001 Aug 1	11468422
HIV-protease inhibitors contribute to P-glycoprotein efflux function defect in peripheral blood lymphocytes from HIV-positive patients receiving HAART.	2001 Aug 1	11468419
[Resistance to protease inhibitors].	2001 Feb	11428058
Pharmacology and clinical experience with saquinavir.	2001 Feb	11336588
New developments in anti-HIV chemotherapy.	2001 Jan-Feb	11347962
Structure-based design of non-peptide HIV protease inhibitors.	2001 Jan-Feb	11347961
Maternal-fetal transfer of saquinavir studied in the ex vivo placental perfusion model.	2001 Jul	11483925
Predictors of protease inhibitor-associated adverse events.	2001 Jul	11478584
HIV protease inhibitors attenuate adherence of Candida albicans to epithelial cells in vitro.	2001 Jul	11476984
Combination therapy with saquinavir soft gelatin capsules in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection.	2001 Jul	11465838
CMVR diagnoses and progression of CD4 cell counts and HIV viral load measurements in HIV patients on HAART.	2001 Jul	11423459
Capillary electrophoretic separation of protease inhibitors used in human immunodeficiency virus therapy.	2001 Jul 13	11486877
High-performance liquid chromatographic assay to determine the plasma levels of HIV-protease inhibitors (amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir) and the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (nevirapine) after liquid-liquid extraction.	2001 Jul 15	11486821
Synthesis of a chiral aziridine derivative as a versatile intermediate for HIV protease inhibitors.	2001 Jul 26	11463313
The effects of antiretroviral protease inhibitors on serum lipid levels in HIV-infected patients.	2001 Jun	11424549
The effect of fluconazole on ritonavir and saquinavir pharmacokinetics in HIV-1-infected individuals.	2001 Jun	11422025
Prognostic factors of combined viral load and CD4+ cell count responses under triple antiretroviral therapy, Aquitaine cohort, 1996-1998.	2001 Jun 1	11404538
Effect of ritonavir/saquinavir on stereoselective pharmacokinetics of methadone: results of AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 401.	2001 Jun 1	11404537
The effect of nevirapine in combination with nelfinavir in heavily pretreated HIV-1-infected patients: a prospective, open-label, controlled, randomized study.	2001 Jun 1	11404533
Design and synthesis of a conformationally restricted trans peptide isostere based on the bioactive conformations of saquinavir and nelfinavir.	2001 Jun 1	11374993
Selection by AZT and rapid replacement in the absence of drugs of HIV type 1 resistant to multiple nucleoside analogs.	2001 Jun 10	11429122
Simultaneous determination of the HIV-protease inhibitors indinavir, amprenavir, ritonavir, saquinavir and nelfinavir in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.	2001 Jun 15	11417878
The binding energetics of first- and second-generation HIV-1 protease inhibitors: implications for drug design.	2001 Jun 15	11396919
A comprehensive account on the role of efflux transporters in the gastrointestinal absorption of 13 commonly used substrate drugs in humans.	2001 Mar	11396754
Sequencing of protease inhibitor therapy: insights from an analysis of HIV phenotypic resistance in patients failing protease inhibitors.	2001 Mar 30	11316998
The interaction of saquinavir (soft gelatin capsule) with ketoconazole, erythromycin and rifampicin: comparison of the effect in healthy volunteers and in HIV-infected patients.	2001 May	11417442
Structure-activity studies of FIV and HIV protease inhibitors containing allophenylnorstatine.	2001 May	11377177
Secreted aspartic proteases of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis and Candida lusitaniae. Inhibition with peptidomimetic inhibitors.	2001 May	11322888
Clinical outcome among HIV-infected patients starting saquinavir hard gel compared to ritonavir or indinavir.	2001 May 25	11399982
Increased risk of lipodystrophy when nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors are included with protease inhibitors in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.	2001 May 4	11399957
Simultaneous determination of the HIV protease inhibitors indinavir, amprenavir, saquinavir, ritonavir and nelfinavir in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.	2001 May 5	11393736
Combined hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and poly(alkylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles intended for oral administration of saquinavir.	2001 May 7	11337155
[Drug interactions with antiretroviral agents].	2001 May-Jun	11475806
Mismatched double-stranded RNA (polyI-polyC(12)U) is synergistic with multiple anti-HIV drugs and is active against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant HIV-1 in vitro.	2001 Sep	11448730
Novel low molecular weight spirodiketopiperazine derivatives potently inhibit R5 HIV-1 infection through their antagonistic effects on CCR5.	2001 Sep 14	11454872
Peptide mimetic HIV protease inhibitors are ligands for the orphan receptor SXR.	2001 Sep 7	11466304

Patents

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide

1000 mg (with ritonavir 100 mg) PO q12hr, or in combination with ritonavir-enhanced lopinavir Treatment-naïve patients: Initial dose: 500 mg PO BID plus ritonavir 100 mg BID x 7 days, THEN increase to 1000mg/100mg PO BID

Route of Administration: Oral

In Vitro Use Guide

In vitro antiviral activity of saquinavir was assessed in lymphoblastoid and monocytic cell lines and in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Saquinavir inhibited HIV activity in both acutely and chronically infected cells. IC50 and IC90 values (50% and 90% inhibitory concentrations) were in the range of 1 to 30 nM and 5 to 80 nM, respectively. In the presence of 40% human serum, the mean IC50 of saquinavir against laboratory strain HIV-1 RF in MT4 cells was 37.7± 5nM representing a 4-fold increase in the IC50 value. In cell culture, saquinavir demonstrated additive to synergistic effects against HIV-1 in combination with reverse transcriptase inhibitors (didanosine, lamivudine, nevirapine, stavudine, zalcitabine and zidovudine) without enhanced cytotoxicity. Saquinavir in combination with the protease inhibitors amprenavir, atazanavir, or lopinavir resulted in synergistic antiviral activity. Saquinavir displayed antiviral activity in vitro against HIV-1 clades A-H (IC50 ranged from 0.9 to 2.5 nM). The IC50 and IC90 values of saquinavir against HIV-2 isolates in vitro ranged from 0.25 nM to 14.6 nM and 4.65 nM to 28.6 nM respectively.

Substance Class	Chemical Created by `admin` on `Mon Mar 31 18:03:54 GMT 2025` Edited by `admin` on `Mon Mar 31 18:03:54 GMT 2025`
Record UNII	L3JE09KZ2F
Record Status	`Validated (UNII)`
Record Version

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Name

Type

Language

RO 31-8959/000

Preferred Name

English

SAQUINAVIR

Official Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [JAN]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIRUM [WHO-IP LATIN]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [ORANGE BOOK]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [VANDF]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [USAN]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [HSDB]

Common Name

English

RO-31-8959/000

Code

English

BUTANEDIAMIDE, N(SUP 1)-(3-(3-(((1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)AMINO)CARBONYL)OCTAHYDRO-2(1H)-ISOQUINOLINYL)-2-HYDROXY-1-(PHENYLMETHYL)PROPYL)-2-((2-QUINOLINYLCARBONYL)AMINO)-, (3S-(2(1R*(R*),2S*),3.ALPHA.,4A.BETA.,8A.BETA.))-

Common Name

English

Saquinavir [WHO-DD]

Common Name

English

(S)-N-[(IS)-I-[(1R)-2-[(3S,4aS,8aS)-3-(tert-Butylcarbamoyl)octahydro-2(1H)-isoquinolyl]-1-hydroxyethyl]phenethyl]-2-quinaldamidosuccinamide

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [USP IMPURITY]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [WHO-IP]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [EMA EPAR]

Common Name

English

(S)-N-((.ALPHA.S)-.ALPHA.-((1R)-2-((3S,4AS,8AS)-3-(TERT-BUTYLCARBAMOYL)OCTAHYDRO-2(1H)-ISOQUINOLYL)-1-HYDROXYETHYL)PHENETHYL)-2-QUINALDAMIDOSUCCINAMIDE

Common Name

English

saquinavir [INN]

Common Name

English

SAQUINAVIR [MART.]

Common Name

English

SCH-52852

Code

English

SAQUINAVIR [MI]

Common Name

English

Classification Tree Code System Code

NDF-RT

N0000175889