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COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Get the latest from the CDC, NIH, the Liverpool drug interaction group and Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table
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(Updated April 6, 2020)
Mechanism of Action: Antiviral: inhibits protease enzyme of coronavirus. As of March 24, 2020, there have been no reported in vitro data for SARS-COV-2. The 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of lopinavir in vitro for SARS-CoV-1 have ranged from 4.0 to 10.7 g per milliliter, depending on the cell type used.¹,² Although the mean peak (9.6 g/mL) and trough (5.5 g/mL) concentrations of lopinavir are within this range,³ other in vitro studies have reported little to no activity of lopinavir against SARS-CoV-1. In a randomized, controlled, open-label trial of hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, treatment with lopinavir–ritonavir was not associated with a difference in the time to clinical improvement (hazard ratio for clinical improvement, 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.72) relative to usual care. In the intention-to-treat population, lopinavir–ritonavir treatment within 12 days after the onset of symptoms was not found to be associated with a shorter time to clinical improvement (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.77 to 2.05); similar results were found regarding later treatment with lopinavir–ritonavir (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.99). Although 28-day mortality did not differ statistically between the two groups, 28-day mortality was lower in the lopinavir/ritonavir treated patients (19.2% vs. 25.0%; difference, 5.8 percentage points; 95% CI, 17.3 to 5.7). This difference was driven largely by patients treated within 12 days of symptom onset (19.0% vs. 27.1%; difference -8.0 percentage points; 95% CI -25.3 to 9.3). The authors concluded that the question of whether earlier lopinavir–ritonavir treatment in Covid-19 could have clinical benefit requires further study. Other outcomes favouring lopinavir/ritonavir included stay in the intensive care unit (median, 6 days vs. 11 days; difference, 5 days; 95% CI, 9 to 0), and the duration from randomization to hospital discharge (median, 12 days vs. 14 days).
Dosage: COVID (off label; current clinical trial data): 400/100 mg (supplied as 2 tablets of 200/50 mg tablets) twice a day for 14 days. Also available as an oral solution containing 400 mg lopinavir/100 mg ritonavir per 5 mL.
Drug Interactions:³ Pharmacodynamic: Other agents that result in PR prolongation (e.g. verapamil, calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenergic blockers, digoxin, cholinesterase inhibitors). Although post-marketing reports describe possible QT-interval prolongation with lopinavir/ritonavir, causality has not been demonstrated. However, consider ECG monitoring in patients receiving with other QT prolonging agents.
Pharmacokinetic: Potent inhibitor of CYP3A4. The following drugs are contraindicated with lopinavir/ritonavir: Pimozide, ergot derivatives, elbasvir/grazoprevir, lovastatin, simvastatin, salmeterol, sildenafil when used for treatment of PAH, vardenafil when used for PAH or ED, midazolam, triazolam, alfuzosin, dronedarone, fusidic acid, neratinib, venetoclax, colchicine and lurasidone. The natural health product, st. john’s wart, is also contraindicated.
Interactions with other psychotropic agents (e.g. trazodone, quetiapine, clonazepam), calcium channel blockers and statins (e.g. atorvastatin) can occur. A full medication history is required before prescribing lopinavir/ritonavir so that interactions can be flagged and managed. Rifampin is also contraindicated because it can reduce levels of lopinavir/ritonavir, possibly compromising effectiveness. Complicating matters is that lopinavir/ritonavir Induces glucuronyl transferases and possibly CYP1A2, CYP2C19 and 2C9. Apalutamide, another moderate to strong CYP3A4 inducer, is also contraindicated.
Adverse effects :³ Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Elevations in hepatic transaminases less common. Pancreatitis rare.
Monitoring: Liver function tests, consider baseline and follow ECG in patients at risk for heart block and/or QT interval prolongation
Pharmacokinetics:³
Absorption: Absolute bioavailability not known; Tmax 4 hours. Tablets can be taken without regard to meals.
Distribution: protein binding 98% to 99%;
Metabolism: CYP3A4 substrate
Elimination: After multiple dosing, <3% lopinavir excreted unchanged in urine.
Half-life: 5 to 6 hours
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