From the Wikipedia
entry
Quote
Antiviral
Chloroquine has antiviral effects,[31] which works by increasing endosomal pH required for the virus/cell fusion process[32][33]
Chloroquine also seems to act as a zinc ionophore, thereby allowing extra cellular zinc to enter inside the cell and inhibit viral RNA dependant RNA polymerase. This could be the potential mechanism of action of chloroquine against COVID-19.[34][35]
Quote
COVID-19
For coronaviruses, chloroquine works by increasing endosomal pH and interfering with terminal glycosylation of the cellular receptor.[42][43] In late January 2020 during the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak, Chinese medical researchers stated that exploratory research into chloroquine and two other medications, remdesivir and lopinavir/ritonavir, seemed to have "fairly good inhibitory effects" on the 2019 novel coronavirus. Requests to start clinical testing were submitted.[44][45][46] Chloroquine phosphate had been also proposed as a treatment for SARS-CoV with in vitro tests successfully inhibiting the virus.[47]
On 19 February 2020, preliminary results found that chloroquine may be effective and safe in treating COVID-19 associated pneumonia.[48][49] There is evidence to indicate the efficacy of chloroquine phosphate against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro on Vero cells.[50] The Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology and the Guangdong Provincial Health and Health Commission issued a report stating that chloroquine phosphate "improves the success rate of treatment and shortens the length of patient’s hospital stay" and recommended it for patients diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia.[51]
Chloroquine has been recommended by Chinese, South Korean and Italian health authorities for the treatment of COVID-19 [52][53][54]; however, these agencies have noted important contraindications for people with certain heart conditions, diabetes, etc.[55][56] In February 2020, both drugs were shown to effectively inhibit COVID-19 in vitro [57], but a further study concluded that hydroxychloroquine was more potent than chloroquine, with a more tolerable safety profile. [58] Preliminary results from a multicentric trial, announced in a press conference, suggested that chloroquine is effective and safe in treating COVID-19 associated pneumonia, "improving lung imaging findings, promoting a virus-negative conversion, and shortening the disease course."[59]
On 16 March 2020, an advisor to the French government on COVID-19, Professor Didier Raoult, announced that a trial involving 24 patients from the southeast of France supported the claim that chloroquine was an effective treatment.[60] A dosage of 600 mg of hydroxychloroquine was administered to these patients every day for 10 days. The drug appeared to be responsible for a "rapid and effective speeding up of their healing process, and a sharp decrease in the amount of time they remained contagious."[61] The study also suggested that taking chloroquine in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin, which is known to be effective against complications from bacterial lung disease, led to even better outcomes. Professor Raoult said the results showed there was "a spectacular reduction in the number of positive cases" with the combination therapy.[62] At six days, among patients given combination therapy, the percentage of those still carrying SARS-CoV-2 was no more than 5%.[63][64]
On Thursday, March 19, it was revealed on radio channel RTL that the treatment has been administered to patients at La Pitié Salpêtrière hospital in Paris and at other undisclosed hospitals on a "compassionate" basis. The hospital did not elaborate on the term. Treatments began on Friday, March 13. Seven days of treatment are required before effects can be safely monitored and assessed.[citation needed]
Also on Thursday, March 19, it was revealed during the White House virus task force press conference by Dr. Hahn, that "compassionate use" refers to allowing physicians to decide on a case by case basis to utilize an experimental drug that is still in clinical trials to be used to treat a patient.
In tha 360. MRF User Map
