Abbott Laboratories' scientists honored for work on Kaletra

Three chemists from Abbott Laboratories have been named 2003 Heroes of Chemistry by the American Chemical Society for their work in discovering and developing the HIV protease inhibitor Kaletra. The Heroes of Chemistry program was started in 1996 to honor industrial chemists and chemical engineers who create commercially successful products based on chemistry that improve quality of life. Abbott employees Dale J. Kempf, Daniel W. Norbeck, and Hing L. Sham will be honored at the ACS 226th national meeting in New York City on September 7. This year's Heroes of Chemistry program salutes those whose work has improved the health and well-being of children. Kempf, Norbeck, and Sham were chosen because Kaletra is used worldwide in treating HIV-positive children and adults. The drug also is the most-prescribed protease inhibitor in the United States. Kaletra, which received simultaneous adult and pediatric approvals from the Food and Drug Administration, is the first HIV protease inhibitor to receive approval for use in children as young as 6 months of age.