resulted in significantly lower bioavailability. The compromised oral bioavailability of the drug led to temporary removal of the oral capsule formulation from the market. As a consequence of the fact that even a trace amount of form II can result in the conversion of the more bioavailable form I into form II, the presence of form II threatened the ruin of existing supplies of the oral capsule formulation of ritonavir; and indeed, form II was found in production lines, effectively halting ritonavir production. Abbott (now AbbVie) withdrew the capsules from the market, and prescribing physicians were encouraged to switch to a Norvir suspension. It has been estimated that Abbott lost more than $250 million USD as a result, and the incident is often cited as a high-profile example of disappearing polymorphs. The company's research and development teams ultimately solved the problem by replacing the capsule formulation with a refrigerated gelcap. In 2000, Abbott (now AbbVie) received FDA-approval for a tablet formulation of lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) which contained a preparation of ritonavir that did not require refrigeration. Ritonavir produced in a solid dispersion by melt-extrusion was found to remain in form I, and was re-introduced commercially in 2010. Society and culture Economics In 2003, Abbott (AbbVie, Inc.) raised the price of a Norvir course from per day to per day, leading to claims of price gouging by patients' groups and some members of Congress. Consumer group Essential Inventions petitioned the NIH to override the Norvir patent, but the NIH announced on August 4, 2004, that it lacked the legal right to allow generic production of Norvir. References Further reading External links AbbVie brands Breakthrough therapy Carbamates CYP2D6 inhibitors CYP3A4 inhibitors Hepatotoxins HIV protease inhibitors Isopropyl compounds Pregnane X receptor agonists Thiazoles Ureas Wikipedia medicine articles ready to translate World Health Organization essential medicines