Which of the following drugs is a known integrase inhibitor?

Integrase inhibitors are a class of antiretroviral drugs used primarily for the treatment of HIV. They work by inhibiting the activity of integrase, an enzyme crucial for the incorporation of viral DNA into the host cellular DNA, which is a necessary step for viral replication.

Cabotegravir stands out as a known integrase inhibitor because it specifically targets and inhibits the integrase enzyme, effectively blocking the integration process and thus helping to control the infection. This makes it an essential part of combination antiretroviral therapy aimed at managing HIV.

Other drugs listed, like atazanavir, darunavir, and viracept, belong to different classes of antiretroviral medications. Atazanavir and darunavir are both protease inhibitors, which work at a different stage of the virus's life cycle, reducing the viral load by inhibiting the protease enzyme necessary for viral replication. Viracept, also known as nelfinavir, is another protease inhibitor with a similar mechanism as the other two.

Understanding the distinct mechanisms of action of these different classes of drugs is crucial for effective HIV treatment and choosing the appropriate therapy for patients. Hence, among the provided options, cabotegravir is the correct choice as it directly