Update on use of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Biosci Trends. 2020 May 21;14(2):156-158. doi: 10.5582/bst.2020.03072. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Abstract

Drugs that are specifically efficacious against SARS-CoV-2 have yet to be established. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have garnered considerable attention for their potential to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Increasing evidence obtained from completed clinical studies indicates the prospects for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. More randomized control clinical studies are warranted to determine the feasibility of these two drugs in treating COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; chloroquine; hydroxychloroquine.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Chloroquine / administration & dosage*
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / administration & dosage*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Chloroquine