Ritonavir News and Research

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Ritonavir, also known as Norvir, is a type of medicine called a protease inhibitor (PI). PIs act by blocking protease, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. Ritonavir was approved by the FDA on March 1, 1996, for use with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV infection in adults and children 2 years of age or older. Ritonavir is now approved with other anti-HIV drugs in the treatment of HIV-1 infection in children in individuals over 1 month in age. Studies have shown that ritonavir works as a booster for some other PIs. Taking ritonavir makes it possible to take a lower dose of the other PIs. This medicine does not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people.

Antiviral COVID-19 drug shows no benefit for Long COVID

Results from a clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published today in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases show that the antiviral drug, PAXLOVID, commonly prescribed to treat acute COVID-19, does not have an impact on Long COVID symptoms when compared to placebo.

1 Sep 2026

Ensitrelvir cuts household COVID-19 risk when given after exposure

Ensitrelvir, an oral SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease inhibitor, reduced symptomatic RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 among household contacts when given within 72 hours after symptom onset in the infected index patient. In the phase 3 SCORPIO-PEP trial, COVID-19 occurred in 2.9% of ensitrelvir recipients versus 9.0% of placebo recipients, with similar overall adverse-event rates.

20 May 2026

Paxlovid speeds recovery but does not reduce severe COVID outcomes in vaccinated adults

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) does not reduce hospital admissions or deaths in vaccinated adults at higher risk of severe COVID-19, despite helping them recover faster, according to results from two national trials published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

22 Apr 2026

HIV treatment linked to risk of early knee osteoarthritis

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), weakens the body's immune system and can be life-threatening if left untreated.

1 Jul 2025

New COVID variant NB.1.8.1 spreads across continents amid calls for vigilance

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is closely monitoring the emergence of a newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, NB.1.8.1, a sublineage of the Omicron family. This variant was first identified in January 2025 and has rapidly spread across Asia and into other regions, including parts of the United States.

6 Jun 2025

How soy and gut microbes alter cancer treatment results

Researchers have discovered that plant-derived phytochemicals and their gut microbiome metabolites control the effectiveness of PI3K inhibitors in cancer therapy. The study reveals that dietary components, especially soy compounds processed by gut bacteria, can alter drug metabolism and impact treatment outcomes.

2 Jun 2025

Assessing the effectiveness of azvudine and paxlovid in hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged over 60

This new article publication from Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, discusses a retrospective cohort study of the efficacy and safety of oral azvudine versus nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged over 60 years.

14 Apr 2025

New quinoline-based antiviral shows strong promise against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers develop quinoline-based drug with inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro).

10 Apr 2025

Scientists stop long-COVID symptoms in mice using a new antiviral compound

Australian scientists developed a novel antiviral that targets the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro enzyme, showing strong preclinical efficacy in reducing both acute and long COVID symptoms in mice.

9 Apr 2025

Paxlovid found ineffective for long COVID relief in new trial

Antiviral medications nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) were not effective in relieving long COVID symptoms, according to a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on April 3.

7 Apr 2025

Rutgers researchers develop promising new oral antiviral for COVID-19

Rutgers Health researchers have developed an oral antiviral drug candidate for COVID-19 that could overcome major limitations of Paxlovid, currently the most prescribed oral treatment.

3 Apr 2025

UCLA study finds no significant benefit of paxlovid for vaccinated older adults

Paxlovid does not significantly reduce COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality among vaccinated older adults, according to new UCLA-led research.

21 Feb 2025

In silico docking of clinically approved drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified in China in December 2019, rapidly spread worldwide, resulting in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

4 Feb 2025

Antidepressant fluoxetine found ineffective for early COVID-19 treatment

Findings reveal fluoxetine's weak antiviral effects in COVID-19, with no significant benefits in symptom resolution compared to other antiviral treatments.

22 Jan 2025

Azvudine beats paxlovid in reducing COVID-19 deaths

In hospitalized COVID-19 patients, azvudine shows lower all-cause mortality and fewer adverse events than Paxlovid, with added antitumor effects observed.

21 Jan 2025

Extended Paxlovid courses show mixed results for long COVID symptoms

A study indicates that longer Paxlovid treatments could improve long COVID symptoms in some patients, highlighting the need for tailored antiviral strategies.

8 Jan 2025

Extended course of Paxlovid shows promise for some long Covid patients

An up-close look at how patients respond to the drug at different times and doses adds nuance to a recent finding that Paxlovid does not work for long Covid.

6 Jan 2025

Leritrelvir shows high efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 protease mutations

Over the last few years, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has undergone significant changes, evolving from the original wild-type strains to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

6 Nov 2024

Study finds nirmatrelvir-ritonavir reduces severe COVID-19 and long COVID risks in high-risk patients

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir effectively lowers hospitalization rates and long COVID symptoms in non-hospitalized, high-risk patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

30 Oct 2024

How viral persistence and immune dysfunction drive long COVID

Study explores the biological drivers and mechanisms of long COVID, shedding light on its epidemiology and potential therapeutic interventions. It emphasizes the role of viral persistence, immune dysfunction, and coagulation in the development of this condition.

29 Sep 2024