Ritonavir

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Ritonavir

Ritonavir, sold under the brand names Norvir® and Norvir Sec®, and as a mixture with Lopinavir called Kaletra®, is a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV/AIDS by disrupting the reproductive cycle of the virus. Ritonavir binds to and inhibits the HIV-1 viral proteinase enzyme which prevents cleavage of the gag-pol polyprotein, resulting in noninfectious, immature viral particles. Protease inhibitors like ritonavir are almost always used in combination with at least two other anti-HIV drugs.

Its chemical name is 1,3-thiazol-5-ylmethyl N-[(2S,3S,5S)-3-hydroxy-5-[[(2S)-3-methyl-2-[[methyl-[(2-propan- 2-yl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)methyl]carbamoyl]amino]butanoyl]amino]-1,6-di(phenyl)hexan- 2-yl]carbamate and its chemical formula is C₃₇H₄₈N₆O₅S₂.

External Links

• Ritonavir - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Drug Bank at http://www.drugbank.ca/cgi-bin/getCard.cgi?CARD=DB00503.txt