KALETRA (lopinavir/ritonavir) is a co-formulation of lopinavir and ritonavir. Lopinavir is an inhibitor of the HIV protease. As co-formulated in KALETRA, ritonavir inhibits the CYP3A-mediated metabolism of lopinavir, thereby providing increased plasma levels of lopinavir.
Lopinavir is chemically designated as [1S-[1R*,(R*),3R*, 4R*]]-N-[4-[[(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)acetyl]amino]-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1-(phenylmethyl)pentyl]tetrahydro-alpha-(1-methylethyl)-2-oxo-1(2H)-pyrimidineacetamide. Its molecular formula is C 37 H 48 N 4 O 5 , and its molecular weight is 628.80. Lopinavir has the following structural formula:
Ritonavir is chemically designated as 10-Hydroxy-2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-1- [2-(1-methylethyl)-4-thiazolyl]-3,6-dioxo-8,11-bis(phenylmethyl)-2,4,7,12-tetraazatridecan-13-oic acid, 5-thiazolylmethyl ester, [5S-(5R*,8R*,10R*,11R*)]. Its molecular formula is C 37 H 48 N 6 O 5 S 2 and its molecular weight is 720.95. Ritonavir has the following structuralformula:
Lopinavir is a white to light tan powder. It is freely soluble in methanol and ethanol, soluble in isopropanol and practically insoluble in water.
KALETRA capsules are available for oral administration in a strength of 133.3 mg lopinavir and 33.3 mg ritonavir with the following inactive ingredients: FD&C Yellow No. 6, gelatin, glycerin, oleic acid, polyoxyl 35 castor oil, propylene glycol, sorbitol special, titanium dioxide, and water.
KALETRA oral solution is available for oral administration as 80 mg lopinavir and 20 mg ritonavir per milliliter with the following inactive ingredients: Acesulfame potassium, alcohol, artificial cotton candy flavor, citric acid, glycerin, high fructose corn syrup, Magnasweet-110 flavor, menthol, natural & artificial vanilla flavor, peppermint oil, polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, povidone, propylene glycol, saccharin sodium, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, and water.
KALETRA oral solution contains 42.4% alcohol (v/v).
Mechanism of action: Lopinavir, an inhibitor of the HIV protease, prevents cleavage of the Gag-Pol polyprotein, resulting in the production of immature, non-infectious viral particles.
Antiviral activity in vitro: The in vitro antiviral activity of lopinavir against laboratory HIV strains and clinical HIV isolates was evaluated in acutely infected lymphoblastic cell lines and peripheral blood lymphocytes, respectively. In the absence of human serum, the mean 50% effective concentration (EC 50 ) of lopinavir against five different HIV-1 laboratory strains ranged from 10-27 nM (0.006-0.017 µg/mL, 1 µg/mL = 1.6 µM) and ranged from 4-11 nM (0.003-0.007 µg/mL) against several HIV-1 clinical isolates (n=6). In the presence of 50% human serum, the mean EC 50 of lopinavir against these five laboratory strains ranged from 65-289 nM (0.04-0.18 µg/mL), representing a 7- to 11-fold attenuation. Combination drug activity studies with lopinavir and other protease inhibitors or reverse transcriptase inhibitors have not been completed.
Resistance: HIV-1 isolates with reduced susceptibility to lopinavir have been selected in vitro . The presence of ritonavir does not appear to influence the selection of lopinavir-resistant viruses in vitro .
The selection of resistance to KALETRA in antiretroviral treatment naive patients has not yet been characterized. In a Phase III study of 653 antiretroviral treatment naive patients (Study 863), plasma viral isolates from each patient on treatment with plasma HIV >400 copies/mL at Week 24, 32, 40 and/or 48 were analyzed. No evidence of resistance to KALETRA was observed in 37 evaluable KALETRA-treated patients (0%). Evidence of genotypic resistance to nelfinavir, defined as the presence of the D30N and/or L90M mutation in HIV protease, was observed in 25/76 (33%) of evaluable nelfinavir-treated patients. The selection of resistance to KALETRA in antiretroviral treatment naive pediatric patients (Study 940) appears to be consistent with that seen in adult patients (Study 863).
Resistance to KALETRA has been noted to emerge in patients treated with other protease inhibitors prior to KALETRA therapy. In Phase II studies of 227 antiretroviral treatment naive and protease inhibitor experienced patients, isolates from 4 of 23 patients with quantifiable (>400 copies/mL) viral RNA following treatment with KALETRA for 12 to 100 weeks displayed significantly reduced susceptibility to lopinavir compared to the corresponding baseline viral isolates. Three of these patients had previously received treatment with a single protease inhibitor (nelfinavir, indinavir, or saquinavir) and one patient had received treatment with multiple protease inhibitors (indinavir, saquinavir and ritonavir). All four of these patients had at least 4 mutations associated with protease inhibitor resistance immediately prior to KALETRA therapy. Following viral rebound, isolates from these patients all contained additional mutations, some of which are recognized to be associated with protease inhibitor resistance. However, there are insufficient data at this time to identify lopinavir-associated mutational patterns in isolates from patients on KALETRA therapy. The assessment of these mutational patterns is under study.
Cross-resistance -- Preclinical Studies: Varying degrees of cross-resistance have been observed among HIV protease inhibitors. Little information is available on the cross-resistance of viruses that developed decreased susceptibility to lopinavir during KALETRA therapy.
The in vitro activity of lopinavir against clinical isolates from patients previously treated with a single protease inhibitor was determined. Isolates that displayed >4-fold reduced susceptibility to nelfinavir (n=13) and saquinavir (n=4), displayed <4-fold reduced susceptibility to lopinavir. Isolates with >4-fold reduced susceptibility to indinavir (n=16) and ritonavir (n=3) displayed a mean of 5.7- and 8.3-fold reduced susceptibility to lopinavir, respectively. Isolates from patients previously treated with two or more protease inhibitors showed greater reductions in susceptibility to lopinavir, as described in the following paragraph.
Clinical Studies -- Antiviral activity of KALETRA in patients with previous protease inhibitor therapies: The clinical relevance of reduced in vitro susceptibility to lopinavir has been examined by assessing the virologic response to KALETRA therapy, with respect to baseline viral genotype and phenotype, in 56 NNRTI-naive patients with HIV RNA >1000 copies/mL despite previous therapy with at least two protease inhibitors selected from nelfinavir, indinavir, saquinavir and ritonavir (Study 957). In this study, patients were initially randomized to receive one of two doses of KALETRA in combination with efavirenz and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The EC 50 values of lopinavir against the 56 baseline viral isolates ranged from 0.5- to 96-fold higher than the wild-type EC 50 . Fifty-five percent (31/56) of these baseline isolates displayed a >4-fold reduced susceptibility to lopinavir. These 31 isolates had a mean reduction in lopinavir susceptibility of 27.9-fold. Table 1 shows the 48 week virologic response (HIV RNA <400 and <50 copies) according to susceptibility and number of genotypic mutations at baseline in 50 evaluable patients enrolled in the study (957) described above. Because this was a select patient population and the sample size was small, the data depicted in Table 1 do not constitute definitive clinical susceptibility breakpoints. Additional data are needed to determine clinically significant breakpoints for KALETRA.
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There are insufficient data at this time to identify lopinavir-associated mutational patterns in isolates from patients on KALETRA therapy. Further studies are needed to assess the association between specific mutational patterns and virologic response rates.
The pharmacokinetic properties of lopinavir co-administered with ritonavir have been evaluated in healthy adult volunteers and in HIV-infected patients; no substantial differences were observed between the two groups. Lopinavir is essentially completely metabolized by CYP3A. Ritonavir inhibits the metabolism of lopinavir, thereby increasing the plasma levels of lopinavir. Across studies, administration of KALETRA 400/100 mg BID yields mean steady-state lopinavir plasma concentrations 15- to 20-fold higher than those of ritonavir in HIV-infected patients. The plasma levels of ritonavir are less than 7% of those obtained after the ritonavir dose of 600 mg BID. The in vitro antiviral EC 50 of lopinavir is approximately 10-fold lower than that of ritonavir. Therefore, the antiviral activity of KALETRA is due to lopinavir.
Figure 1 displays the mean steady-state plasma concentrations of lopinavir and ritonavir after KALETRA 400/100 mg BID with food for 3 weeks from a pharmacokinetic study in HIV-infected adult subjects (n=19).
Absorption: In a pharmacokinetic study in HIV-positive subjects (n=19), multiple dosing with 400/100 mg KALETRA BID with food for 3 weeks produced a mean ± SD lopinavir peak plasma concentration (C max ) of 9.8 ± 3.7 µg/mL, occurring approximately 4 hours after administration. The mean steady-state trough concentration prior to the morning dose was 7.1 ± 2.9 µg/mL and minimum concentration within a dosing interval was 5.5 ± 2.7 µg/mL. Lopinavir AUC over a 12 hour dosing interval averaged 92.6 ± 36.7 µg·h/mL. The absolute bioavailability of lopinavir co-formulated with ritonavir in humans has not been established. Under nonfasting conditions (500 kcal, 25% from fat), lopinavir concentrations were similar following administration of KALETRA co-formulated capsules and liquid. When administered under fasting conditions, both the mean AUC and C max of lopinavir were 22% lower for the KALETRA liquid relative to the capsule formulation.
Effects of Food on Oral Absorption: Administration of a single 400/100 mg dose of KALETRA capsules with a moderate fat meal (500-682 kcal, 23 to 25% calories from fat) was associated with a mean increase of 48 and 23% in lopinavir AUC and C max , respectively, relative to fasting. For KALETRA oral solution, the corresponding increases in lopinavir AUC and C max were 80 and 54%, respectively. Relative to fasting, administration of KALETRA with a high fat meal (872 kcal, 56% from fat) increased lopinavir AUC and C max by 97 and 43%, respectively, for capsules, and 130 and 56%, respectively, for oral solution. To enhance bioavailability and minimize pharmacokinetic variability KALETRA should be taken with food.
Distribution: At steady state, lopinavir is approximately 98-99% bound to plasma proteins. Lopinavir binds to both alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) and albumin; however, it has a higher affinity for AAG. At steady state, lopinavir protein binding remains constant over the range of observed concentrations after 400/100 mg KALETRA BID, and is similar between healthy volunteers and HIV-positive patients.
Metabolism: In vitro experiments with human hepatic microsomes indicate that lopinavir primarily undergoes oxidative metabolism. Lopinavir is extensively metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P450 system, almost exclusively by the CYP3A isozyme. Ritonavir is a potent CYP3A inhibitor which inhibits the metabolism of lopinavir, and therefore increases plasma levels of lopinavir. A 14 C-lopinavir study in humans showed that 89% of the plasma radioactivity after a single 400/100 mg KALETRA dose was due to parent drug. At least 13 lopinavir oxidative metabolites have been identified in man. Ritonavir has been shown to induce metabolic enzymes, resulting in the induction of its own metabolism. Pre-dose lopinavir concentrations decline with time during multiple dosing, stabilizing after approximately 10 to 16 days.
Elimination: Following a 400/100 mg 14 C-lopinavir/ritonavir dose, approximately 10.4 ± 2.3% and 82.6 ± 2.5% of an administered dose of 14 C-lopinavir can be accounted for in urine and feces, respectively, after 8 days. Unchanged lopinavir accounted for approximately 2.2 and 19.8% of the administered dose in urine and feces, respectively. After multiple dosing, less than 3% of the lopinavir dose is excreted unchanged in the urine. The apparent oral clearance (CL/F) of lopinavir is 5.98 ± 5.75 L/hr (mean ± SD, N=19).
Gender, Race and Age: Lopinavir pharmacokinetics have not been studied in elderly patients. No gender related pharmacokinetic differences have been observed in adult patients. No clinically important pharmacokinetic differences due to race have been identified.
Pediatric Patients: The pharmacokinetics of KALETRA 300/75 mg/m 2 BID and 230/57.5 mg/m 2 BID have been studied in a total of 53 pediatric patients, ranging in age from 6 months to 12 years. The 230/57.5 mg/m 2 BID regimen without nevirapine and the 300/75 mg/m 2 BID regimen with nevirapine provided lopinavir plasma concentrations similar to those obtained in adult patients receiving the 400/100 mg BID regimen (without nevirapine).
The mean steady-state lopinavir AUC, C max , and C min were 72.6 ± 31.1 µg·h/mL, 8.2 ± 2.9 and 3.4 ± 2.1 µg/mL, respectively after KALETRA 230/57.5 mg/m 2 BID without nevirapine (n=12), and were 85.8 ± 36.9 µg·h/mL, 10.0 ± 3.3 and 3.6 ± 3.5 µg/mL, respectively, after 300/75 mg/m 2 BID with nevirapine (n=12). The nevirapine regimen was 7 mg/kg BID (6 months to 8 years) or 4 mg/kg BID (>8 years).
Renal Insufficiency: Lopinavir pharmacokinetics have not been studied in patients with renal insufficiency; however, since the renal clearance of lopinavir is negligible, a decrease in total body clearance is not expected in patients with renal insufficiency.
Hepatic Impairment: Lopinavir is principally metabolized and eliminated by the liver. Multiple dosing of KALETRA 400/100 mg twice daily to HIV and HCV co-infected patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (n=12) resulted in a 30% increase in lopinavir AUC and 20% increase in C max compared to HIV-infected subjects with normal hepatic function (n=12). Additionally, the plasma protein binding of lopinavir was statistically significantly lower in both mild and moderate hepatic impairment compared to controls (99.09 vs. 99.31%, respectively). Caution should be exercised when administering KALETRA to subjects with hepatic impairment. KALETRA has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see PRECAUTIONS ).
Drug-Drug Interactions: See also CONTRAINDICATIONS , WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS : DrugInteractions .
KALETRA is an inhibitor of the P450 isoform CYP3A in vitro . Co-administration of KALETRA and drugs primarily metabolized by CYP3A may result in increased plasmaconcentrations of the other drug, which could increase or prolong its therapeutic and adverse effects (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ).
KALETRA does not inhibit CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP2B6 or CYP1A2 at clinically relevant concentrations.
KALETRA has been shown in vivo to induce its own metabolism and to increase the biotransformation of some drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes and by glucuronidation.
KALETRA is metabolized by CYP3A. Drugs that induce CYP3A activity would be expected to increase the clearance of lopinavir, resulting in lowered plasma concentrations of lopinavir. Although not noted with concurrent ketoconazole, co-administration of KALETRA and other drugs that inhibit CYP3A may increase lopinavir plasma concentrations.
Drug interaction studies were performed with KALETRA and other drugs likely to be co-administered and some drugs commonly used as probes for pharmacokinetic interactions. The effects of co-administration of KALETRA on the AUC, C max and C min are summarized in Table 2 (effect of other drugs on lopinavir) and Table 3 (effect of KALETRA on other drugs). The effects of other drugs on ritonavir are not shown since they generally correlate with those observed with lopinavir (if lopinavir concentrations are decreased, ritonavir concentrations are decreased) unless otherwise indicated in the table footnotes. For information regarding clinical recommendations, see Table 9 in PRECAUTIONS .
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KALETRA is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-infection. This indication is based on analyses of plasma HIV RNA levels and CD 4 cell counts in controlled studies of KALETRA of 48 weeks duration and in smaller uncontrolled dose-ranging studies of KALETRA of 144-204 weeks duration.
Study 863: KALETRA BID + stavudine + lamivudine compared to nelfinavir TID + stavudine + lamivudine
Study 863 is an ongoing, randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial comparing treatment with KALETRA (400/100 mg BID) plus stavudine and lamivudine versus nelfinavir (750 mg TID) plus stavudine and lamivudine in 653 antiretroviral treatment naive patients. Patients had a mean age of 38 years (range: 19 to 84), 57% were Caucasian, and 80% were male. Mean baseline CD 4 cell count was 259 cells/mm 3 (range: 2 to 949 cells/mm 3 ) and mean baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.9 log 10 copies/mL (range: 2.6 to 6.8 log 10 copies/mL).
Treatment response and outcomes of randomized treatment are presented in Table 4.
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Through 48 weeks of therapy, there was a statistically significantly higher proportion of patients in the KALETRA arm compared to the nelfinavir arm with HIV RNA <400 copies/mL (75% vs. 62%, respectively) and HIV RNA <50 copies/mL (67% vs. 52%, respectively). Treatment response by baseline HIV RNA level subgroups is presented in Table 5.
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Through 48 weeks of therapy, the mean increase from baseline in CD 4 cell count was 207 cells/mm 3 for the KALETRA arm and 195 cells/mm 3 for the nelfinavir arm.
Study 888: KALETRA BID + nevirapine + NRTIs compared to investigator-selected protease inhibitor(s) + nevirapine + NRTIs.
Study 888 is a randomized, open-label, multicenter trial comparing treatment with KALETRA (400/100 mg BID) plus nevirapine and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors versus investigator-selected protease inhibitor(s) plus nevirapine and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in 288 single protease inhibitor-experienced, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-naive patients. Patients had a mean age of 40 years (range: 18 to 74), 68% were Caucasian, and 86% were male. Mean baseline CD 4 cell count was 322 cells/mm 3 (range: 10 to 1059 cells/mm 3 ) and mean baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.1 log 10 copies/mL (range: 2.6 to 6.0 log 10 copies/mL).
Treatment response and outcomes of randomized treatment through Week 48 are presented in Table 6.
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Through 48 weeks of therapy, there was a statistically significantly higher proportion of patients in the KALETRA arm compared to the investigator-selected protease inhibitor(s) arm with HIV RNA <400 copies/mL (57% vs. 33%, respectively).
Through 48 weeks of therapy, the mean increase from baseline in CD 4 cell count was 111 cells/mm 3 for the KALETRA arm and 112 cells/mm 3 for the investigator-selected protease inhibitor(s) arm.
Study 720: KALETRA BID + stavudine + lamivudine
Study 765: KALETRA BID + nevirapine + NRTIs
Study 720 (patients without prior antiretroviral therapy) and study 765 (patients with prior protease inhibitor therapy) are randomized, blinded, multi-center trials evaluating treatment with KALETRA at up to three dose levels (200/100 mg BID [720 only], 400/100 mg BID, and 400/200 mg BID). In Study 720, all patients switched to 400/100 mg BID between Weeks 48-72. Patients in study 720 had a mean age of 35 years, 70% were Caucasian, and 96% were male, while patients in study 765 had a mean age of 40 years, 73% were Caucasian, and 90% were male. Mean (range) baseline CD 4 cell counts for patients in study 720 and study 765 were 338 (3-918) and 372 (72-807) cells/mm 3 , respectively. Mean (range) baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA levels for patients in study 720 and study 765 were 4.9 (3.3 to 6.3) and 4.0 (2.9 to 5.8) log 10 copies/mL, respectively.
Through 204 weeks of treatment in study 720, the proportion of patients with HIV RNA <400 (<50) copies/mL was 71% (70%) [n=100], and the corresponding mean increase in CD4 cell count was 440 cells/mm 3 . Twenty-eight patients (28%) discontinued the study, including 9 (9%) discontinuations due to adverse events and 1 (1%) death. Through 144 weeks of treatment in study 765, the proportion of patients with HIV RNA <400 (<50) copies/mL was 54% (50%) [n=70], and the corresponding mean increase in CD4 cell count was 212 cells/mm 3 . Twenty-seven patients (39%) discontinued the study, including 9 (13%) discontinuations secondary to adverse events and 2 (3%) deaths.
KALETRA is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any of its ingredients, including ritonavir.
Co-administration of KALETRA is contraindicated with drugs that are highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance and for which elevated plasma concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events. These drugs are listed in Table 7.
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ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with KALETRA. This statement is included on the product's bottle label.
KALETRA is an inhibitor of the P450 isoform CYP3A. Co-administration of KALETRA and drugs primarily metabolized by CYP3A may result in increased plasma concentrations of the other drug that could increase or prolong its therapeutic and adverse effects (see Pharmacokinetics : Drug-Drug Interactions , CONTRAINDICATIONS -- Table 7: Drugs That Are Contraindicated With KALETRA , PRECAUTIONS -- Table 8: Drugs That Should Not Be Co-administered With KALETRA and Table 9: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions ).
Particular caution should be used when prescribing sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil in patients receiving KALETRA. Co-administration of KALETRA with these drugs is expected to substantially increase their concentrations and may result in an increase in associated adverse events including hypotension, syncope, visual changes and prolonged erection (see PRECAUTIONS : Drug Interactions and the complete prescribing information for sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil.)
Concomitant use of KALETRA with lovastatin or simvastatin is not recommended. Caution should be exercised if HIV protease inhibitors, including KALETRA, are used concurrently with other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that are also metabolized by the CYP3A4 pathway (e.g., atorvastatin). The risk of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis may be increased when HIV protease inhibitors, including KALETRA, are used in combination with these drugs.
Concomitant use of KALETRA and St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum), or products containing St. John's wort, is not recommended. Co-administration of protease inhibitors, including KALETRA, with St. John's wort is expected to substantially decrease protease inhibitor concentrations and may result in sub-optimal levels of lopinavir and lead to loss of virologic response and possible resistance to lopinavir or to the class of protease inhibitors.
Pancreatitis has been observed in patients receiving KALETRA therapy, including those who developed marked triglyceride elevations. In some cases, fatalities have been observed. Although a causal relationship to KALETRA has not been established, marked triglyceride elevations is a risk factor for development of pancreatitis (see PRECAUTIONS - Lipid Elevations ). Patients with advanced HIV disease may be at increased risk of elevated triglycerides and pancreatitis, and patients with a history of pancreatitis may be at increased risk for recurrence during KALETRA therapy.
Pancreatitis should be considered if clinical symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) or abnormalities in laboratory values (such as increased serum lipase or amylase values) suggestive of pancreatitis should occur. Patients who exhibit these signs or symptoms should be evaluated and KALETRA and/or other antiretroviral therapy should be suspended as clinically appropriate.
New onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of pre-existing diabetes mellitus, and hyperglycemia have been reported during postmarketing surveillance in HIV-infected patients receiving protease inhibitor therapy. Some patients required either initiation or dose adjustments of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment of these events. In some cases, diabetic ketoacidosis has occurred. In those patients who discontinued protease inhibitor therapy, hyperglycemia persisted in some cases. Because these events have been reported voluntarily during clinical practice, estimates of frequency cannot be made and a causal relationship between protease inhibitor therapy and these events has not been established.
KALETRA is principally metabolized by the liver; therefore, caution should be exercised when administering this drug to patients with hepatic impairment, because lopinavir concentrations may be increased (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY , hepatic impairment). Patients with underlying hepatitis B or C or marked elevations in transaminases prior to treatment may be at increased risk for developing further transaminase elevations or hepatic decompensation. There have been postmarketing reports of hepatic dysfunction, including some fatalities. These have generally occurred in patients with advanced HIV disease taking multiple concomitant medications in the setting of underlying chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. A causal relationship with KALETRA therapy has not been established. Increased AST/ALT monitoring should be considered in these patients, especially during the first several months of KALETRA treatment.
Various degrees of cross-resistance among protease inhibitors have been observed. The effect of KALETRA therapy on the efficacy of subsequently administered protease inhibitors is under investigation (see MICROBIOLOGY ).
There have been reports of increased bleeding, including spontaneous skin hematomas and hemarthrosis, in patients with hemophilia type A and B treated with protease inhibitors. In some patients additional factor VIII was given. In more than half of the reported cases, treatment with protease inhibitors was continued or reintroduced. A causal relationship between protease inhibitor therapy and these events has not been established.
Redistribution/accumulation of body fat including central obesity, dorsocervical fat enlargement (buffalo hump), peripheral wasting, facial wasting, breast enlargement, and "cushingoid appearance" have been observed in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. The mechanism and long-term consequences of these events are currently unknown. A causal relationship has not been established.
Treatment with KALETRA has resulted in large increases in the concentration of total cholesterol and triglycerides (see ADVERSE REACTIONS -- Table 11). Triglyceride and cholesterol testing should be performed prior to initiating KALETRA therapy and at periodic intervals during therapy. Lipid disorders should be managed as clinically appropriate. See PRECAUTIONS Table 9: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions for additional information on potential drug interactions with KALETRA and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Immune reconstitution syndrome has been reported in patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy, including KALETRA. During the initial phase of combination antiretroviral treatment, patients whose immune system responds may develop an inflammatory response to indolent or residual opportunistic infections (such as Mycobacterium avium infection, cytomegalovirus, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, or tuberculosis) which may necessitate further evaluation and treatment.
A statement to patients and health care providers is included on the product's bottle label: " ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with KALETRA. " A Patient Package Insert (PPI) for KALETRA is available for patient information.
Patients should be told that sustained decreases in plasma HIV RNA have been associated with a reduced risk of progression to AIDS and death. Patients should remain under the care of a physician while using KALETRA. Patients should be advised to take KALETRA and other concomitant antiretroviral therapy every day as prescribed. KALETRA must always be used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Patients should not alter the dose or discontinue therapy without consulting with their doctor. If a dose of KALETRA is missed patients should take the dose as soon as possible and then return to their normal schedule. However, if a dose is skipped the patient should not double the next dose.
Patients should be informed that KALETRA is not a cure for HIV infection and that they may continue to develop opportunistic infections and other complications associated with HIV disease. The long-term effects of KALETRA are unknown at this time. Patients should be told that there are currently no data demonstrating that therapy with KALETRA can reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others through sexual contact.
KALETRA may interact with some drugs; therefore, patients should be advised to report to their doctor the use of any other prescription, non-prescription medication or herbal products, particularly St. John's wort.
Patients taking didanosine should take didanosine one hour before or two hours after KALETRA.
Patients receiving sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil should be advised that they may be at an increased risk of associated adverse events including hypotension, visual changes, and sustained erection, and should promptly report any symptoms to their doctor.
Patients receiving estrogen-based hormonal contraceptives should be instructed that additional or alternate contraceptive measures should be used during therapy with KALETRA.
KALETRA should be taken with food to enhance absorption.
Patients should be informed that redistribution or accumulation of body fat may occur in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and that the cause and long term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.
KALETRA is an inhibitor of CYP3A (cytochrome P450 3A) both in vitro and in vivo . Co-administration of KALETRA and drugs primarily metabolized by CYP3A (e.g., dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, immunosuppressants and PDE5 inhibitors) may result in increased plasma concentrations of the other drugs that could increase or prolong their therapeutic and adverse effects (see Table 9: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions ). Agents that are extensively metabolized by CYP3A and have high first pass metabolism appear to be the most susceptible to large increases in AUC (>3-fold) when co-administered with KALETRA.
KALETRA does not inhibit CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP2B6 or CYP1A2 at clinically relevant concentrations.
KALETRA has been shown in vivo to induce its own metabolism and to increase the biotransformation of some drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes and by glucuronidation.
KALETRA is metabolized by CYP3A. Co-administration of KALETRA and drugs that induce CYP3A may decrease lopinavir plasma concentrations and reduce its therapeutic effect (see Table 9: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions ). Although not noted with concurrent ketoconazole, co-administration of KALETRA and other drugs that inhibit CYP3A may increase lopinavir plasma concentrations.
Drugs that are contraindicated and not recommended for co-administration with KALETRA are included in Table 8: Drugs That Should Not Be Co-administered With KALETRA . These recommendations are based on either drug interaction studies or predicted interactions due to the expected magnitude of interaction and potential for serious events or loss of efficacy.
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Drug interaction studies reveal no clinically significant interaction between KALETRA and desipramine (CYP2D6 probe), pravastatin, stavudine or lamivudine.
Based on known metabolic profiles, clinically significant drug interactions are not expected between KALETRA and fluvastatin, dapsone, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, azithromycin, erythromycin, or fluconazole.
Zidovudine and Abacavir: KALETRA induces glucuronidation; therefore, KALETRA has the potential to reduce zidovudine and abacavir plasma concentrations. The clinical significance of this potential interaction is unknown.
Lopinavir/ritonavir combination was evaluated for carcinogenic potential by oral gavage administration to mice and rats for up to 104 weeks. Results showed an increase in the incidence of benign hepatocellular adenomas and an increase in the combined incidence of hepatocellular adenomas plus carcinoma in both males and females in mice and males in rats at doses that produced approximately 1.6-2.2 times (mice) and 0.5 times (rats) the human exposure (based on AUC 0-24hr measurement) at the recommended dose of 400/100 mg KALETRA twice daily. Administration of lopinavir/ritonavir did not cause a statistically significant increase in the incidence of any other benign or malignant neoplasm in mice or rats.
Carcinogenicity studies in mice and rats have been carried out on ritonavir. In male mice, there was a dose dependent increase in the incidence of both adenomas and combined adenomas and carcinomas in the liver. Based on AUC measurements, the exposure at the high dose was approximately 4-fold for males that of the exposure in humans with the recommended therapeutic dose (400/100 mg KALETRA BID). There were no carcinogenic effects seen in females at the dosages tested. The exposure at the high dose was approximately 9-fold for the females that of the exposure in humans. There were no carcinogenic effects in rats. In this study, the exposure at the high dose was approximately 0.7-fold that of the exposure in humans with the 400/100 mg KALETRA BID regimen. Based on the exposures achieved in the animal studies, the significance of the observed effects is not known. However, neither lopinavir nor ritonavir was found to be mutagenic or clastogenic in a battery of in vitro and in vivo assays including the Ames bacterial reverse mutation assay using S. typhimurium and E. coli , the mouse lymphoma assay, the mouse micronucleus test and chromosomal aberration assays in human lymphocytes.
Lopinavir in combination with ritonavir at a 2:1 ratio produced no effects on fertility in male and female rats at levels of 10/5, 30/15 or 100/50 mg/kg/day. Based on AUC measurements, the exposures in rats at the high doses were approximately 0.7-fold for lopinavir and 1.8-fold for ritonavir of the exposures in humans at the recommended therapeutic dose (400/100 mg BID).
Pregnancy Category C: No treatment-related malformations were observed when lopinavir in combination with ritonavir was administered to pregnant rats or rabbits. Embryonic and fetal developmental toxicities (early resorption, decreased fetal viability, decreased fetal body weight, increased incidence of skeletal variations and skeletal ossification delays) occurred in rats at a maternally toxic dosage. Based on AUC measurements, the drug exposures in rats at the toxic doses were approximately 0.7-fold for lopinavir and 1.8-fold for ritonavir for males and females that of the exposures in humans at the recommended therapeutic dose (400/100 mg BID). In a peri- and postnatal study in rats, a developmental toxicity (a decrease in survival in pups between birth and postnatal day 21) occurred.
No embryonic and fetal developmental toxicities were observed in rabbits at a maternally toxic dosage. Based on AUC measurements, the drug exposures in rabbits at the toxic doses were approximately 0.6-fold for lopinavir and 1.0-fold for ritonavir that of the exposures in humans at the recommended therapeutic dose (400/100 mg BID). There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. KALETRA should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry: To monitor maternal-fetal outcomes of pregnant women exposed to KALETRA, an Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry has been established. Physicians are encouraged to register patients by calling 1-800-258-4263.
Nursing Mothers: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that HIV-infected mothers not breast-feed their infants to avoid risking postnatal transmission of HIV. Studies in rats have demonstrated that lopinavir is secreted in milk. It is not known whether lopinavir is secreted in human milk. Because of both the potential for HIV transmission and the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, mothers should be instructed not to breast-feed if they are receiving KALETRA.
Clinical studies of KALETRA did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. In general, appropriate caution should be exercised in the administration and monitoring of KALETRA in elderly patients reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
The safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of KALETRA in pediatric patients below the age of 6 months have not been established. In HIV-infected patients age 6 months to 12 years, the adverse event profile seen during a clinical trial was similar to that for adult patients. The evaluation of the antiviral activity of KALETRA in pediatric patients in clinical trials is ongoing.
Study 940 is an ongoing open-label, multicenter trial evaluating the pharmacokinetic profile, tolerability, safety and efficacy of KALETRA oral solution containing lopinavir 80 mg/mL and ritonavir 20 mg/mL in 100 antiretroviral naive (44%) and experienced (56%) pediatric patients. All patients were non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor naive. Patients were randomized to either 230 mg lopinavir/57.5 mg ritonavir per m 2 or 300 mg lopinavir/75 mg ritonavir per m 2 . Naive patients also received lamivudine and stavudine. Experienced patients received nevirapine plus up to two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic profiles of the two dose regimens were assessed after three weeks of therapy in each patient. After analysis of these data, all patients were continued on the 300 mg lopinavir/75 mg ritonavir per m 2 dose. Patients had a mean age of 5 years (range 6 months to 12 years) with 14% less than 2 years. Mean baseline CD 4 cell count was 838 cells/mm 3 and mean baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.7 log 10 copies/mL.
Through 48 weeks of therapy, the proportion of patients who achieved and sustained an HIV RNA < 400 copies/mL was 80% for antiretroviral naive patients and 71% for antiretroviral experienced patients. The mean increase from baseline in CD 4 cell count was 404 cells/mm 3 for antiretroviral naive and 284 cells/mm 3 for antiretroviral experienced patients treated through 48 weeks. At 48 weeks, two patients (2%) had prematurely discontinued the study. One antiretroviral naive patient prematurely discontinued secondary to an adverse event attributed to KALETRA, while one antiretroviral experienced patient prematurely discontinued secondary to an HIV-related event.
Dose selection for patients 6 months to 12 years of age was based on the following results. The 230/57.5 mg/m 2 BID regimen without nevirapine and the 300/75 mg/m 2 BID regimen with nevirapine provided lopinavir plasma concentrations similar to those obtained in adult patients receiving the 400/100 mg BID regimen (without nevirapine).
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events: KALETRA has been studied in 701 patients as combination therapy in Phase I/II and Phase III clinical trials. The most common adverse event associated with KALETRA therapy was diarrhea, which was generally of mild to moderate severity. Rates of discontinuation of randomized therapy due to adverse events were 5.8% in KALETRA-treated and 4.9% in nelfinavir-treated patients in Study 863.
Drug related clinical adverse events of moderate or severe intensity in >/= 2% of patients treated with combination therapy for up to 48 weeks (Phase III) and for up to 204 weeks (Phase I/II) are presented in Table 10. For other information regarding observed or potentially serious adverse events, please see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS .
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Treatment-emergent adverse events occurring in less than 2% of adult patients receiving KALETRA in all phase II/III clinical trials and considered at least possibly related or of unknown relationship to treatment with KALETRA and of at least moderate intensity are listed below by body system.
Body as a Whole: Allergic reaction, back pain, chest pain, chest pain substernal, cyst, drug interaction, drug level increased, face edema, flu syndrome, hypertrophy, infection bacterial, malaise, and viral infection.
Cardiovascular System: Atrial fibrillation, cerebral infarct, deep thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, migraine, palpitation, postural hypotension, thrombophlebitis, varicose vein, and vasculitis.
Digestive System: Cholangitis, cholecystitis, constipation, dry mouth, enteritis, enterocolitis, eructation, esophagitis, fecal incontinence, gastritis, gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic colitis, increased appetite, jaundice, mouth ulceration, pancreatitis, periodontitis, sialadenitis, stomatitis, and ulcerative stomatitis.
Endocrine System: Cushing's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism.
Hemic and Lymphatic System: Anemia, leukopenia, and lymphadenopathy.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders: Avitaminosis, dehydration, edema, glucose tolerance decreased, lactic acidosis, obesity, peripheral edema, and weight gain.
Musculoskeletal System: Arthralgia, arthrosis and bone necrosis.
Nervous System: Abnormal dreams, agitation, amnesia, anxiety, apathy, ataxia, confusion, convulsion, dizziness, dyskinesia, emotional lability, encephalopathy, facial paralysis, hypertonia, nervousness, neuropathy, peripheral neuritis, somnolence, thinking abnormal, tremor, and vertigo.
Respiratory System: Asthma, dyspnea, lung edema, pharyngitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis.
Skin and Appendages: Acne, alopecia, dry skin, eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, furunculosis, maculopapular rash, nail disorder, pruritis, seborrhea, skin benign neoplasm, skin discoloration, skin ulcer, and sweating.
Special Senses: Abnormal vision, eye disorder, otitis media, taste perversion, and tinnitus.
Urogenital System: Abnormal ejaculation, breast enlargement, gynecomastia, kidney calculus, and urine abnormality.
Post-Marketing Experience: The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-marketing use of KALETRA. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to KALETRA exposure.
Body as a whole: Redistribution/accumulation of body fat has been reported (see PRECAUTIONS , Fat Redistribution ).
Cardiovascular: Bradyarrhythmias.
Skin and Appendages: Stevens Johnson Syndrome and erythema multiforme.
Laboratory Abnormalities: The percentages of adult patients treated with combination therapy with Grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities are presented in Table 11.
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Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events: KALETRA has been studied in 100 pediatric patients 6 months to 12 years of age. The adverse event profile seen during a clinical trial was similar to that for adult patients.
Taste aversion, vomiting, and diarrhea were the most commonly reported drug related adverse events of any severity in pediatric patients treated with combination therapy including KALETRA for up to 48 weeks in Study 940. A total of 8 children experienced moderate or severe adverse events at least possibly related to KALETRA. Rash (reported in 3%) was the only drug-related clinical adverse event of moderate to severe intensity observed in >/= 2% of children enrolled.
Laboratory Abnormalities: The percentages of pediatric patients treated with combination therapy including KALETRA with Grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities are presented in Table 12.
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KALETRA oral solution contains 42.4% alcohol (v/v). Accidental ingestion of the product by a young child could result in significant alcohol-related toxicity and could approach the potential lethal dose of alcohol.
Human experience of acute overdosage with KALETRA is limited. Treatment of overdose with KALETRA should consist of general supportive measures including monitoring of vital signs and observation of the clinical status of the patient. There is no specific antidote for overdose with KALETRA. If indicated, elimination of unabsorbed drug should be achieved by emesis or gastric lavage. Administration of activated charcoal may also be used to aid in removal of unabsorbed drug. Since KALETRA is highly protein bound, dialysis is unlikely to be beneficial in significant removal of the drug.
The recommended dosage of KALETRA is 400/100 mg (3 capsules or 5.0 mL) twice daily taken with food.
Concomitant therapy: Efavirenz, nevirapine, amprenavir or nelfinavir: A dose increase of KALETRA to 533/133 mg (4 capsules or 6.5 mL) twice daily taken with food is recommended when used in combination with efavirenz, nevirapine, amprenavir or nelfinavir (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY - Drug Interactions and/or PRECAUTIONS -Table 9).
In children 6 months to 12 years of age, the recommended dosage of KALETRA oral solution is 12/3 mg/kg for those 7 to <15 kg and 10/2.5 mg/kg for those 15 to 40 kg (approximately equivalent to 230/57.5 mg/m 2 ) twice daily taken with food, up to a maximum dose of 400/100 mg in children >40 kg (5.0 mL or 3 capsules) twice daily. It is preferred that the prescriber calculate the appropriate milligram dose for each individual child </=12 years old and determine the corresponding volume of solution or number of capsules. However, as an alternative, the following table contains dosing guidelines for KALETRA oral solution based on body weight. When possible, dose should be administered using a calibrated dosing syringe.
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Note: Use adult dosage recommendation for children >12 years of age.
Concomitant therapy: Efavirenz, nevirapine or amprenavir: A dose increase of KALETRA oral solution to 13/3.25 mg/kg for those 7 to <15 kg and 11/2.75 mg/kg for those 15 to 45 kg (approximately equivalent to 300/75 mg/m 2 ) twice daily taken with food, up to a maximum dose of 533/133 mg in children >45 kg twice daily is recommended when used in combination with efavirenz, nevirapine or amprenavir in children 6 months to 12 years of age. The following table contains dosing guidelines for KALETRA oral solution based on body weight, when used in combination with efavirenz, nevirapine or amprenavir in children (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY - Drug Interactions and/or PRECAUTIONS -Table 9).
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Note: Use adult dosage recommendation for children >12 years of age.
KALETRA (lopinavir/ritonavir) capsules are orange soft gelatin capsules imprinted with the corporate logo
Bottles of 180 capsules each............................( NDC 0074-3959-77)
Recommended storage: Store KALETRA soft gelatin capsules at 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) until dispensed. Avoid exposure to excessive heat. For patient use, refrigerated KALETRA capsules remain stable until the expiration date printed on the label. If stored at room temperature up to 77°F (25°C), capsules should be used within 2 months.
KALETRA (lopinavir/ritonavir) oral solution is a light yellow to orange colored liquid supplied in amber-colored multiple-dose bottles containing 400 mg lopinavir/100 mg ritonavir per 5 mL (80 mg lopinavir/20 mg ritonavir per mL) packaged with a marked dosing cup in the following size:
160 mL bottle................................................( NDC 0074-3956-46)
Recommended storage: Store KALETRA oral solution at 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) until dispensed. Avoid exposure to excessive heat. For patient use, refrigerated KALETRA oral solution remains stable until the expiration date printed on the label. If stored at room temperature up to 77°F (25°C), oral solution should be used within 2 months.
03-5395-R11-Rev. November, 2004
ABBOTT LABORATORIES
NORTH CHICAGO, IL 60064, U.S.A.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
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(lopinavir/ritonavir) capsules
(lopinavir/ritonavir) oral solution
ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with KALETRA. Please also read the section "MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH KALETRA."
Patient Information
KALETRA®
(kuh-LEE-tra)
Generic Name: lopinavir/ritonavir
(lop-IN-uh-veer/rit-ON-uh-veer)
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking KALETRA. Also, read it each time you get your KALETRA prescription refilled, in case something has changed. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor when you start this medicine and at check ups. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about KALETRA.
Before taking your medicine, make sure you have received the correct medicine. Compare the name above with the name on your bottle and the appearance of your medicine with the description provided below. Contact your pharmacist immediately if you believe a dispensing error has occurred.
What is KALETRA and how does it work?
KALETRA is a combination of two medicines. They are lopinavir and ritonavir. KALETRA is a type of medicine called an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) protease (PRO-tee-ase) inhibitor. KALETRA is always used in combination with other anti-HIV medicines to treat people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. KALETRA is for adults and for children age 6 months and older.
HIV infection destroys CD 4 (T) cells, which are important to the immune system. After a large number of T cells are destroyed, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) develops.
KALETRA blocks HIV protease, a chemical which is needed for HIV to multiply. KALETRA reduces the amount of HIV in your blood and increases the number of T cells. Reducing the amount of HIV in the blood reduces the chance of death or infections that happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).
Does KALETRA cure HIV or AIDS?
KALETRA does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. The long-term effects of KALETRA are not known at this time. People taking KALETRA may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that happen with HIV infection. Some of these conditions are pneumonia, herpes virus infections, and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections.
Does KALETRA reduce the risk of passing HIV to others?
KALETRA does not reduce the risk of passing HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Continue to practice safe sex and do not use or share dirty needles.
How should I take KALETRA?
What should I do if I miss a dose of KALETRA?
It is important that you do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of KALETRA, take it as soon as possible and then take your next scheduled dose at its regular time. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not double the next dose.
What happens if I take too much KALETRA?
If you suspect that you took more than the prescribed dose of this medicine, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
As with all prescription medicines, KALETRA should be kept out of the reach of young children. KALETRA liquid contains a large amount of alcohol. If a toddler or young child accidentally drinks more than the recommended dose of KALETRA, it could make him/her sick from too much alcohol. Contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately if this happens.
Who should not take KALETRA?
Together with your doctor, you need to decide whether KALETRA is right for you.
For more information about medicines you should not take with KALETRA, please read the section titled "MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH KALETRA."
Can I take KALETRA with other medications? *
KALETRA may interact with other medicines, including those you take without a prescription. You must tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking or planning to take before you take KALETRA.
MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH KALETRA:
Medicines that require dosage adjustments:
It is possible that your doctor may need to increase or decrease the dose of other medicines when you are also taking KALETRA. Remember to tell your doctor all medicines you are taking or plan to take.
Before you take Viagra® (sildenafil), Cialis® (tadalafil), or Levitra® (vardenafil) with KALETRA, talk to your doctor about problems these two medicines can cause when taken together. You may get increased side effects of VIAGRA, CIALIS, or LEVITRA such as low blood pressure, vision changes, and penis erection lasting more than 4 hours. If an erection lasts longer than 4 hours, get medical help right away to avoid permanent damage to your penis. Your doctor can explain these symptoms to you.
What are the possible side effects of KALETRA?
What should I tell my doctor before taking KALETRA?
How do I store KALETRA?
Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. Be sure that if you throw any medicine away, it is out of the reach of children.
General advice about prescription medicines:
Talk to your doctor or other health care provider if you have any questions about this medicine or your condition. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information Leaflet. If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you information about this medicine that was written for health care professionals. Do not use this medicine for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not share this medicine with other people.
* The brands listed are trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Abbott Laboratories. The makers of these brands are not affiliated with and do not endorse Abbott Laboratories or its products.
Ref: 03-5395-R11
Revised: November, 2004
ABBOTT LABORATORIES
NORTH CHICAGO, IL 60064 U.S.A.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.