Used in pharmaceutical synthesis as a chiral building block for developing protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its protected hydroxyl and carboxyl groups make it valuable in peptide mimetics and drug design, particularly in creating structurally constrained analogs. Commonly employed in the preparation of antiviral and anticancer agents due to its ability to influence stereochemistry and enhance metabolic stability in final compounds. Also utilized in asymmetric synthesis where control of stereochemistry is critical.