lopinavir + ritonavir + interferon beta-1b

This is a combination therapy consisting of two small molecule protease inhibitors, lopinavir and ritonavir, together with the recombinant protein interferon beta-1b. Lopinavir and ritonavir are antiretroviral agents primarily used in the treatment of HIV infection; ritonavir acts as a pharmacokinetic enhancer by inhibiting CYP3A-mediated metabolism of lopinavir, thereby increasing its plasma concentration[6][8][9]. Interferon beta-1b is a cytokine that modulates immune responses and has antiviral properties. The combination has been investigated for use in viral infections such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and COVID-19. In clinical trials for MERS, this regimen reduced mortality when administered early after symptom onset[1]. For COVID-19, triple therapy with ribavirin showed faster viral clearance compared to control groups; however, studies specifically on the three-drug combination without ribavirin have shown mixed results regarding clinical benefit[2][3][5].