The story
From rib(oside) + -a- + -vir- (“antiviral”) + -in.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
ribavirin
Today it means: A synthetic analog of guanosine with chemical formula C₈H₁₂N₄O₅ that inhibits viral nucleic acid synthesis and is used as a broad-spectrum antiviral drug especially in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection and chronic hepatitis C. Full definition →