Lopinavir–Ritonavir is an HIV drug that has the brand name of Kaletra. HIV is a virus that targets and alters the immune system that increases the risk and impact of other diseases and infections. Without treatment, the infection might progress to an advanced disease stage called AIDS. This infection attacks immune cells called CD4 cells, which are a type of T cell. These are white blood cells that move around the body that detects faults and anomalies in cells as well as infections. When HIV targets and infiltrates these cells, it lessens the ability of the body to combat other diseases. HIV is a lifelong infection. However, receiving treatment and managing the disease effectively can prevent HIV from reaching a severe level. It can as well reduce the risk of a person passing on the virus. People transmit HIV in bodily fluids, including:
⦁ Breast milk
⦁ Blood
⦁ Anal fluids
⦁ Semen
⦁ Vaginal secretions
The risk of HIV progressing to AIDS varies widely between individuals and depends on many factors including:
⦁ Drug-resistant strains of HIV
⦁ The individual’s genetic inheritance resistance to certain strains of HIV
⦁ The body’s ability to defend against HIV
⦁ The age of the individual
⦁ The presence of other infections
⦁ Access to high-quality, sanitary healthcare
AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV and can develop in people with the infection. It occurs only if you have no treatment for your HIV condition. The life expectancy with AIDS is about 3 years. But just because a person has HIV doesn’t mean they will develop AIDS.
The early symptoms of HIV infection may include:
⦁ Fever
⦁ Chills
⦁ Muscle aches
⦁ Joint pain
⦁ Sweats especially at night
⦁ Sore throat
⦁ A red rash
⦁ Enlarged glands
⦁ Tiredness
⦁ Unintentional weight loss
⦁ Weakness
⦁ Thrush
These symptoms might also result from the immune system fighting off many types of viruses.

Lopinavir–Ritonavir use to treat COVID-19
The study has involved 199 patients in China who had severe cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 for a randomized and controlled trial. Of those, 99 received Lopinavir–Ritonavir while 100 were only given standard care. Those treated with the drug were also more likely to experience side effects like vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. These were so severe in 13 patients that they had to stop treatment.

 How does Lopinavir–Ritonavir  work?
The HIV antiviral that works by stopping viruses from replicating  had no observable effect on viral shedding in COVID-19 patients. They have said that it does not fight the virus that causes the condition. Some of patients in the Lopinavir–Ritonavir  group continued to test positive for the virus at the end of the trial.
In the early stages of the COVID-19 breakout in Wuhan, a certain Chinese doctors were using it along with alpha-interferon to treat the disease. But, they was no effective results. Even assumptions that the antiviral resistance to the drug was considered at those stages when in reality it had no efficacy.