A new tetrahydroindazolylbenzamide derivative has been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as HIV-inhibitor. The biological data revealed the ability to inhibit HIV proliferation with low cytotoxicity allowing for significant selectivity (EC<sub>50</sub> 2.77 μM; CC<sub>50</sub> 118.7 μM; SI = 68). The compound did not inhibit the viral integrase as demonstrated by <i>in vitro</i> studies. QPCR experiments showed that the block of viral replication occurred at early replication steps, prior to integration, profiling it as a late reverse transcription inhibitor. An efficient multistep strategy was adopted for the synthesis of the scaffold, consisting of a sequential ring-opening reaction of oxazol-5-(4<i>H</i>)-one with 1,3-diketone, followed by cyclocondensation with hydrazine and hydrolysis of the nitrile to the desired carboxamide.