Hydroxychloroquine an Anti-malarial drug got global attention. When it is shown that it can shorten the time to clinical recovery of the COVID-19 patients.
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an anti-malarial drug its composition is similar to chloroquine. Both drugs have similar clinical indications and side effects. Hydroxychloroquine is the oldest and best-known drug to cure malaria, but with lesser side-effects. It can be bought over the counter and is not much expensive and it is quite affordable.
The drug got global attention as it is shown to have shortened the time to clinical recovery of COVID-19 patients. However, many of these are in small lab-controlled testing as densely populated industries or research centers.are not allowed to open. Due to strict order to is passed to maintain the social distancing which is the temporary cure of this pandemic.
According to a study in France
During a study on hydroxychloroquine in France enrolling 80 patients. It is found that hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with azithromycin appeared to reduce virus levels quicker. As did a study in Wuhan, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak — which also appeared to reduce the duration of severe illness.
Several scientists fault the design of these trials. Hydroxychloroquine act as an interferon blocker and works by lowering the immune system’s response to a viral infection. A hyperactive response given by the immune system is said to be basically responsible for pneumonia, also a fallout of severe infections. This property of Hydroxychloroquine is what makes it useful in different autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
ICMR has cleared the way of HCQ
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has cleared HCQ to be used as prophylaxis, or preventive medication, by doctors, nurses, and other health staff. Union Health Ministry, last month, moved it to Schedule H1, which can be sold on prescription only. In the absence of better drugs and healthcare workers exposed to high levels of the virus. HCQ could, in theory, modulate their immune system’s response to the virus and protect them. However, these dosages are also linked to instances of cardiac arrhythmia and liver damage.
Though now prescribed only for restricted groups. Wide usage could mean other unknown complications surface and—in its ability to tune down the body’s immune response. May actually handicap people’s ability to fight the infection.
Even as the drug’s efficacy is not yet clinically proven, U.S. President Donald Trump has been a proponent of its use, calling it a “gamechanger”. He warned “retaliation” against India, if it didn’t revoke the ban on its exports. But India eventually allowed the export of the drug.
India is leading in serving other countries
India covers nearly 70 percent of the world’s production and supply of hydroxychloroquine. According to the report of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), making it the biggest manufacturer across the globe. India is producing 40 tonnes of Hydroxychloroquine(HCQ) on a monthly basis, which means 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each. India gets the pharmaceutical ingredient from china which is used to manufacture HCQ. The supplies so far from china have been slow.
Besides Ipca Laboratories, Zydus Cadila, and Wallace Pharmaceuticals. Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Cipla, and Lupin are the best pharma companies that manufacturing HCQ in India.
Impact of Coronavirus
For most people, the virus causes moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. For some, mostly older adults and people with existing health problems like respiratory problems, suffering from sugar, etc. It can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. So far, nearly 75,000 people in all countries have lost their lives fighting with the global pandemic disease.
