Lopinavir was developed by Abbott in an attempt to improve on the AIDS/HIV resistance and serum protein-binding properties of the company’s earlier protease inhibitor, ritonavir. Administered alone, lopinavir has insufficient bioavailability; however, like several HIV protease inhibitors, its blood levels are greatly increased by low doses of ritonavir, a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A4. Abbott decided to employ a stretegy of co administering lopiavir with doses of rionavir and lopinavir is then marketed as a formulation containing ritonavir. Its the first multi drug capsule to have a drug not available individually.

Lopinavir/ritonavir was approved by the US FDA on 15 September 2000, and in Europe in April 2001. Its patent will expire in the US on June 26, 2016.

Abbott was one of the first users of the APS, a synchrotron radiation light source at Argonne Nat. Lab. One early reseach project undertaken at the APS was HIV. Using X-ray crystallography, researchers found the points of attack of the HIV protease inhibitors – agents that block the breakdown of proteins. Protease inhibitors stop HIV from making new copies of itself by blocking the last step in the process, when the virus attempts to replicate - and out of that discovery came the drug lopinavir.

Abbott Laboratories was one of the earliest users of the Advanced Photon Source, a national synchrotron-radiation light source at Argonne National Laboratory. One early reseach project undertaken at the APS was HIV. Using x ray crystallography, researchers located the points of attack of HIV protease inhibitors, medication that block the breakdown of proteins. Protease inhibitors stop HIV from making new copies of itself by blocking the last step in the process, when the virus attempts to replicate - and out of that discovery came the drug Lopinavir.