Lopinavir/ritonavir is the first fixed-dose combination of protease inhibitors approved by the FDA for the treatment of HIV infection. It is being marketed for use with other drugs in adults and children more than six months old. Lopinavir is a new drug available only in this combination. Ritonavir is often used with other protease inhibitors to raise their plasma concentrations.

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Antiretroviral therapy is recommended for all HIV-infected patients, both to reduce the risk of disease progression and to prevent transmission of the virus to others. Various guidelines for treatment of HIV infection are available.

Tipranavir (Aptivus - Boehringer Ingelheim), a new protease inhibitor, has received accelerated approval from the FDA. It must be given with ritonavir (Norvir). The combination is indicated for use with other antiretrovirals to treat HIV infection in highly treatment-experienced adults who have ongoing viral replication or in those with HIV strains known to be resistant to multiple protease inhibitors.

The FDA has approved elvitegravir (Vitekta – Gilead), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), for use with a protease inhibitor (PI) plus ritonavir and other antiretroviral drugs for treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced adults. Elvitegravir is also available in a fixed-dose combination (Stribild) with the pharmacokinetic enhancer cobicistat and the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DF). A similar combination (Genvoya) that includes tenofovir alafenamide instead of tenofovir...

The severity and rapid spread of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) have raised questions about the use of some drugs in patients with the disease and whether currently available drugs could be effective in treating it. Definitive answers are lacking, but some recommendations can be made. For additional information on specific drugs, see our table Some Drugs Being Considered for Treatment of COVID-19.

Atazanavir (Reyataz - Bristol-Myers Squibb), a new protease inhibitor (PI), and emtricitabine (Emtriva - Gilead), a nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) chemically similar to lamivudine, have been approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Both are taken once daily, unlike most anti-HIV drugs.

The severity and rapid spread of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) have raised questions about the use of some drugs in patients with the disease and whether currently available drugs could be effective in treating it. Definitive answers are lacking, but some recommendations can be made. For additional information on specific drugs, see our table Some Drugs Being Considered for Treatment of COVID-19.

The FDA has approved the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury – Gilead) for IV treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients who are ≥12 years old and weigh ≥40 kg. Hospitalized children who are <12 years old or weigh <40 kg can receive remdesivir through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Remdesivir is the first drug to be approved in the US for treatment of COVID-19.

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