What Is Lopinavir?
Lopinavir is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Lopinavir is a protease inhibitor. The amount of lopinavir in the blood stream stays much higher if it is taken with a small amount of ritonavir, another protease inhibitor. See Fact Sheet 442 for more information on ritonavir. Kaletra® is a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir in the same tablet. In developing countries, Kaletra is sold as Aluvia. Generic versions have been tentatively approved under PEPFAR (see Fact Sheet 475). Protease inhibitors prevent the protease enzyme from working. HIV protease acts like chemical scissors. It cuts the raw material for HIV into specific pieces needed to build a new virus. Protease inhibitors “gum up” these scissors.
