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 Studies are underway in a number of countries, including China,
France and the United States, to see whether the pills - chloroquine
and hydroxychloroquine - may have a role to play in the rapidly
spreading pandemic.
U.S. President Donald Trump has touted the malaria drugs as "a game
changer." But the Food and Drug Administration and other health
experts said trials must first ensure the medicines are effective
and safe for use in this patient population.
WHY ARE MALARIA DRUGS UNDER CONSIDERATION?
There are currently no vaccines or U.S.-approved treatments for the
highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness that has killed more
than 18,000 worldwide, so even the most severely ill patients
largely receive only supportive care such as breathing assistance.
On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says
some U.S. clinicians have reported anecdotal use of
hydroxychloroquine at different doses.
Chloroquine is a synthetic form of quinine, which is found on the
bark of the cinchona plant. It has been used for hundreds of years
in South America to treat fever.
Chloroquine was first synthesized in the 1930s. A version called
hydroxychloroquine, in use since the 1950s, is considered to be less
toxic, according to studies. Both drugs can cause serious side
effects, including vision loss, heart problems or even death, if
used incorrectly.
The drugs are used to combat malaria, which is caused by a parasite
spread through mosquito bites, because they interrupt its ability to
digest a host's blood cells.
Scientists have detailed biochemical proprieties of chloroquine that
indicate it could be used against some viral infections. These
include direct antiviral effects, such as blocking steps needed by
certain viruses to replicate, and its ability to suppress production
and release of proteins involved in inflammatory complications of
several viral diseases.
In addition to malaria, hydroxychloroquine is also used to treat
lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY?
Data has begun to emerge from some coronavirus trials, but most
information so far is preliminary.
A French team last week said initial results from a 24-patient trial
of hydroxychloroquine showed that 25% of patients given the drug
still carried the coronavirus after six days, compared with 90% of
patients given a placebo. But the trial is small and results on
patient outcomes are still awaited.
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Chinese researchers last month reported trial results showing that chloroquine
treatment of COVID-19 patients had clinical and virologic benefit versus a
comparison group. It has been added as a recommended treatment for the illness
in China, where the virus first emerged in December.
This week, the Journal of Zhejiang University reported disappointing results
from a 30-patient Shanghai study of hydroxychloroquine. It showed the drug
worked no better than standard care for patients with COVID-19.
The University of Minnesota has launched a 1,500-person trial to see whether
hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19 in people
exposed to the virus - including healthcare workers and family members of
infected people.
Other trials of the malaria drugs are ongoing or set to start in the United
Kingdom, Norway and Thailand.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose state is the epicenter of the U.S.
outbreak with more than 25,000 cases, on Sunday said it had acquired hundreds of
thousands of doses of the malaria drugs to use in a clinical trial.
IS THERE ENOUGH TO GO AROUND?
In the United States, prescriptions for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have
already spiked and are in short supply, according to pharmacists. Several makers
of the generic medicines said they are increasing production of chloroquine
pills. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd, Mylan NV and Bayer AG have donated
large quantities of the drugs to health authorities.
PRESCRIPTION ONLY!
Health officials caution that no one should be taking these drugs to treat or
prevent coronavirus infection without medical supervision and a prescription.
In Arizona, a man died and his wife was hospitalized after taking a nonmedical
form of chloroquine used to fight parasites in aquariums.
"Given the uncertainty around COVID-19, we understand that people are trying to
find new ways to prevent or treat this virus, but self-medicating is not the way
to do so,” said Dr. Daniel Brooks, medical director of the poison and drug
information center at Arizona-based Banner Health.
(Reporting By Deena Beasley; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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