ritonavir

noun

ri·​to·​na·​vir ˌrī-ˈtō-nə-ˌvir 

-ˈtä-,

ri-

: an antiviral drug C₃₇H₄₈N₆O₅S₂ that is a protease inhibitor administered orally in conjunction with other agents to treat viral infections (such as HIV infection and hepatitis C)

Examples of ritonavir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Varda Space Industries’ craft was testing the possibility that microgravity could be an ideal environment for some kinds of manufacturing, in this case the AIDS drug ritonavir, although the company promotes a range of microgravity pharma manufacturing use cases. —IEEE Spectrum, 24 Oct. 2023

The rest of the group took a placebo with ritonavir, which doesn't work against the SARS-CoV-2 virus on its own. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 7 June 2024

In other words, medication crystals like those in ritonavir can be grown larger and more structurally sound than is typically possible here on Earth. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024

Once in low-Earth orbit, its mini-lab autonomously grew crystals of the common HIV treatment drug ritonavir. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

rito- (perhaps by shortening & alteration from protease) + -navir (as in saquinavir)

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

ritonavir

noun

ri·​to·​na·​vir ˌrī-ˈtō-nə-ˌvir, -ˈtän-ə-, ri- 

: a protease inhibitor C₃₇H₄₈N₆O₅S₂ that is administered orally in conjunction with other agents (such as lopinavir or nirmatrelvir) to treat viral infections (such as HIV infection, hepatitis C, or COVID-19)

Note: Trademarks for preparations containing ritonavir include Norvir and Paxlovid.