The medicinal chemistry and structure-activity relationships for a novel series of 7-benzyl-4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one HIV-integrase inhibitors are disclosed. Substituent effects were evaluated at the N-1, C-3, and 7-benzyl positions of the naphthyridinone ring system. Low nanomolar IC(50) values were achieved in an HIV-integrase strand transfer assay with both carboxylic ester and carboxamide groups at C-3. More importantly, several carboxamide congeners showed potent antiviral activity in cellular assays. A 7-benzyl substituent was found to be critical for potent enzyme inhibition, and an N-(2-methoxyethyl)carboxamide moiety at C-3 significantly reduced plasma protein binding effects in vitro. Pharmacokinetic data in rats for one carboxamide analogue demonstrated oral bioavailability and reasonable in vivo clearance.