Abbott reports Aluvia approvals

Abbott has announced that Aluvia (lopinavir/ritonavir), its orally-administered tablet-formulation protease inhibitor, has been approved for use in 19 countries in Africa, including Angola, Burundi, Rwanda and Zambia, among others.

The firm notes that African countries accounting for over 95 per cent of the HIV-burden have now seen Aluvia approved, or have the compound currently pending approval, while the drug has also been approved in 90 countries worldwide with 137 total filings.

Abbott reports that it is attempting to broaden the access to Aluvia in areas where HIV is common, while World Health Organisation figures show that its predecessor lopinavir/ritonavir capsule is registered in 118 countries worldwide and is the most widely registered drug for the virus.

Mark Masterson, vice-president of the Pacific, Asia and Africa regions at Abbott, said: “Bringing a heat-stable tablet version of lopinavir/ritonavir to Africa has been a top priority and a key step in our commitment to improve patient care for the global HIV/Aids community,”

He added that the approvals announced today mark only the start of such efforts, with it hoped that patients across the continent soon have access to this proven drug.

Earlier this week, Abbott announced an application for marketing approval for a lower-strength formulation of Kaletra and Aluvia with the European Medicines Agency.