Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill., developed Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir), a unique antiretroviral agent used to treat HIV infection. The drug, which received simultaneous adult and pediatric approvals, is the first HIV protease inhibitor to receive Food and Drug Administration approval for use in children as young as six months old. Protease is an enzyme HIV uses in the final stages of its reproduction process. Kaletra has stopped progression of the virus and strengthened the immune systems of HIV-infected children, many of whom have not responded to other therapy.

Merck Research Laboratories, Kirkland, Canada, discovered and developed Singulair® to help control asthma in adults and children as young as 12 months. This year the FDA also approved the medication for the relief of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in patients two years and older. Singulair® works by blocking substances in the body called leukotrienes, an underlying cause of asthma and allergy symptoms.

Pfizer Inc, Ann Arbor, Mich., developed Neurontin®, an anticonvulsant used to treat childhood epilepsy. Epilepsy is common in children, with 75 percent of the cases developing before the age of 20. Neurontin® has no reactions with other drugs and this is significant since many children with epilepsy also have other conditions which require medication. The drug controls seizures and, because many children with epilepsy have normal cognition, they can live normal lives when the episodes subside

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Sanford, N.C., developed Prevnar® the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to help protect infants and young children against invasive pneumococcal disease caused by seven common strains of Streptococcus pneumonia. Many hav
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Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society
22-Aug-2003