Bevirimat is used in research related to the treatment of HIV-1 infection. It functions by inhibiting the maturation of the virus, specifically blocking the cleavage of the Gag protein, which is essential for the formation of infectious viral particles. This action prevents the final assembly of the virus, rendering it non-infectious. Due to this mechanism, Bevirimat has been studied as a potential antiretroviral agent, particularly in cases where other drug classes have shown limitations. It represents an early example of a maturation inhibitor, offering a unique target in the HIV lifecycle for therapeutic intervention. Research on Bevirimat has helped guide the development of newer compounds in the same class with improved efficacy and resistance profiles.