AbbVie abandoned patents on Lopinavir/Ritonavir

AbbVie Inc. will no longer be enforcing patents relating to adult or paediatric Lopinavir/Ritonavir (a brand name Aluvia or Kaletra) anywhere, according the information by Medicines Patent Pool. The company justifies this decision with the emergence and rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. That was why the patent owner decided to provide the opportunity to freely manufacture generic medicines in any quantity, in any corner of the world and for any therapeutic purposes.

“This is a real breakthrough for the EECA region as well as for the whole world,” underlined Sergii Dmytriiev, Policy and Advocacy Director of CO “100% Life.”  “I hope that this decision was caused essentially by the struggle of patient organizations, and I am sure that pharmaceutical companies will be more likely to meet the wishes of patients in such difficult times.”

Although Lopinavir/Ritonavir is one of the most popular antiretroviral drugs for the HIV treatment, in recent months it is tested as a means of combating COVID-19 in countries affected by coronavirus outbreaks. Some countries, including Italy, have even included this medicine in national protocols for the treatment of patients with coronavirus infection COVID-19. A World Health Organization announced the launch of large-scale clinical trials to find an effective drug for the treatment of coronavirus, and it included this drug as a potential cure for pandemic.

Thus, from March 20, AbbVie Inc. will no longer pursue other manufacturers’ production, import, export and sale of this drug in the countries where its patents apply, so Ukraine now can purchase generic versions of Lopinavir/Ritonavir. It is important that these procurements can be made not only for COVID-19 treatment but also for the treatment of HIV-positive patients.