DETAILS: The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new formulation of Kaletra (lopinavir + ritonavir) on October 28, 2005. Each new tablet delivers more medication than the original soft-gel formulation, so that those taking Kaletra will only need to take four pills a day instead of six—in addition to the other meds in their HIV regimens. The new formulation also doesn’t need to be refrigerated or taken with food, unlike the old Kaletra.
THE PILL: The Kaletra tablet is composed of 200 mg lopinavir and 50 mg ritonavir, while the soft-gel capsule contains 133.3 mg lopinavir and 33.3 mg ritonavir. Abbott developed the tablet using a process called Meltrex, which allows the drugs to be dispersed into the bloodstream as quickly and steadily as a capsule.
MORE INFO:
Abbott Laboratories Press Release
