The lopinavir/ritonavir tablet (marketed as Aluvia in the developing world) is said to be the first and only co-formulated protease inhibitor tablet that does not require refrigeration and can be taken with or without food two important advances in delivering HIV medicine, especially in developing countries.
The tablet formulation also offers the increased dosing convenience of fewer pills (a total daily dose of four tablets, instead of six soft-gel capsules). Each Aluvia tablet contains 200mg of lopinavir and 50mg of ritonavir. The World Health Organization has identified lopinavir/ritonavir as the recommended protease inhibitor for second-line therapy in resource-restricted countries, such as South Africa.
Scott Brun, divisional vice president of infectious diseases and immunology development at Abbott, said: “Bringing a heat-stable tablet version of lopinavir/ritonavir to South Africa is another example of Abbott’s commitment to working with the business community and health community to improve health systems and address challenges of capacity building and access in Africa and beyond.”