In the early stages of COVID-19 pandemics, lopinavir was repurposed against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the hope of disturbing its protease activity.

The study used the equivalent of one tablet twice a day applied topically to the cervices of women with high-grade and low-grade precancerous conditions.

After three months of treatment, 82.6% of the women who had high-grade disease had normal cervical conditions, confirmed by smears and biopsies.

[7][8] Lopinavir was found to inhibit MERS-CoV replication in the low-micromolar range in cell cultures.

[10] A long-acting injectable formulation of lopinavir is under clinical trial aiming at monthly dosing (NCT05850728).