Ritonavir Crystal Form Contaminated Factories

In 1998, the life-saving HIV drug ritonavir faced a manufacturing crisis not because its original Form I became insoluble, but because a newly discovered Form II was more stable and far less soluble. Microscopic Form II crystals caused new batches of Form I to crystallize into the medically ineffective form, and staff who had encountered it appeared capable of contaminating entire manufacturing plants. As it spread, any manufacturing plant that made contact with Form II couldn't make Form I anymore.

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