Beacon of Hope for COVID-19: Treatments tested and tried (A Talk about Hydroxychoroquine)

Treatment options tried and tested: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ):


Ever since the recognition of SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in humans, the race for finding its treatment as well as its prophylactic therapy are being looked into. Since the toll is increasing day by day in not just a city or a country, but the whole world; the timely research and analysis is vital.

Looking into the gravity of the grave situation and increasingly high numbers of people with contracted infections, finding the most effective treatment at the fastest pace is the top-priority.

Trials and tests to find the effective cure for COVID-19 are on the global scale. The prophylactic vaccine is at least 6-12 months far from now. Until then, re-positioning the existing drugs based on risk-benefit ratio is crucial. The outcome in people who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 have suffered respiratory illness at sever levels. Hence, safety profile of any drug being tested needs commensurate focus as that on its efficacy.

The world has known many viruses before SARS-CoV-2. Accordingly, scientists and researchers have developed plenty of antivirals and other supportive therapies for treating people infected with these viruses. The existing therapies initially tested for treating COVID-19 patients are the ones that have been used for ailments like that of Influenza, Malaria, Ebola, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and many more.

Why HCQ for SARS-CoV-2?

HCQ is a well-established anti-malarial drug also known to have anti-inflammatory action. Apart form the treatment of malaria, HCQ has also been approved by US FDA for the treatment of lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment of COVID-19 with HCQ was suggested after it showed proven efficacy in an in vitro study which means a study done outside the human body or in a lab against the SARS-CoV-2. The potency, efficacy and safety profile of treatment with HCQ was better than its congener, Chloroquine.

Mechanism of action:


The progression of COVID-19 has been from asymptomatic to symptomatic and then Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). This can be attributed to the cytokine storm, the term used for uncontrolled cytokine release. HCQ can be related directly to inhibiting this storm.  The mechanism behind inhibiting this cytokine storm is the suppression of T cell activation which accounts for its immunomodulatory response. 

 When any infection hits us, our immune system gets activated to fight with the foreign invader. The number of white blood cells increase. Their is an increase in the lymphocytes and a corresponding increase in the body temperature. It is the result of this activated immunity only that fever is experienced on coming in contact with an infection. 
A question that may strike many is when we speak of fighting an infection, we need a higher immunity and HCQ is suppressing the immune response of the body that elevated as a response on coming in contact with the deadly SARS-CoV-2. So, what is the need of suppressing the immunity for not an autoimmune disorder? The simple answer is just like everything in excess is bad, so is the excessive immune response resulting in cytokine storm. 

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