HIV protease inhibitors were invented to help treat AIDS. It was the first major breakthrough in the ongoing fight to treat HIV since its discovery in 1984. The way the inhibitor works is by limiting the HIV virus' capability to replicate. This is done by interfering with the HIV protease enzyme in the final stage of replication. In this way, new cells will not be attacked by the virus.
The first HIV protease inhibitors created was called Invirase (saquinavir) and it was made by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. The inventors of this breakthrough were Joseph A. Martin Sally Redshaw. The FDA approves the use of five inhibitors on the market including Invirase.