The generic name of this medication is atazanavir and brand name is Reyataz. The active ingredient of this medication is atazanavir sulfate. It functions as a protease inhibitor and is not a cure for HIV. It does not prevent the spread of HIV. Atazanavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Atazanavir, trade name Reyataz®, (formerly known as BMS-232632) is an antiretroviral drug of the protease inhibitor (PI) class. Like other antiretrovirals, it is used to treat infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Two Reyataz 200 mg capsulesAtazanavir is distinguished from other PIs in that it can be given once-daily (rather than requiring multiple doses per day) and has lesser effects on the patient's lipid profile (the amounts of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood). Like other protease inhibitors, it is used only in combination with other HIV medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atazanavir on June 20, 2003. Atazanavir is the first PI approved for once-daily dosing, and also appears to be less likely to cause lipodystrophy and elevated cholesterol as side effects. It may also not be cross-resistant with other PIs. When boosted with ritonavir it is of equivalent potency to lopinavir for use in salvage therapy in patients with a degree of drug resistance; although boosting with ritonavir eliminates the metabolic advantages of atazanavir. On October 20, 2006, the FDA approved a new formulation of atazanavir (300 mg capsules) to be taken as part of combination drug therapy. This formulation should reduce pill burden, as one 300 mg capsule may replace two 150 mg capsules