Abbott’s Norvir tablets approved by FDA

Abbott revealed this week that its antiretroviral therapy Norvir has received authorisation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The tablets, which can be stored at room temperature and do not require refrigeration, come in the form of soft-gelatin capsules and contain 100 mg of ritonavir.

They are indicated for use in combination with other antiretroviral medications to treat HIV and were developed using Abbott’s Meltrex technology – a proprietary melt-extrusion process, affording better heat stability.

Scott Brun, divisional vice-president of infectious disease and development at the firm, said: “The innovation behind the development of the Norvir tablet is the direct result of years of effort by Abbott scientists to address the needs of people living with HIV.”

This week, Abbott submitted its ARCHITECT HE4 assay for FDA approval – a device that utilises a basic blood test to help monitor the recurrence or progression of epithelial ovarian cancer.