Hydroxychloroquine, primarily known by its brand name Plaquenil, is a medication with its main use being the prevention and treatment of malaria in regions where chloroquine resistance hasn't rendered it ineffective. Beyond malaria, it is also utilized in treating rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and porphyria cutanea tarda. The medication is administered orally, typically in the form of hydroxychloroquine sulfate.
In 1934, Hans Andersag and his team at Bayer laboratories discovered chloroquine, a synthetic analog of quinine with anti-malarial properties.
Chloroquine was introduced into clinical practice in 1947 for the prophylactic treatment of malaria.
The initial synthesis of hydroxychloroquine was revealed in a patent filed by Sterling Drug in 1949.
In 1955, Hydroxychloroquine was approved for medical use in the United States.
A new mechanism of action for hydroxychloroquine was uncovered in 2003, showing that it inhibits the stimulation of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) family receptors. TLRs are key players in the innate immune system, recognizing microbial products and triggering inflammatory responses.
In 2019, research on Hydroxychloroquine began to investigate its potential for preventing and treating COVID-19. However, clinical trials found it to be ineffective for this purpose and possibly associated with dangerous side effects.
Several countries began using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients in March 2020, despite the lack of formal approval through clinical trials.
The FDA issued a caution against using hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 outside of hospitals or clinical trials on April 24, 2020, citing the risk of serious heart rhythm problems.
Hydroxychloroquine was withdrawn as a potential COVID-19 treatment in June 2020 after trials showed no benefit for hospitalized patients with severe illness.
The FDA revoked the emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine in June 2020 due to its lack of effectiveness against COVID-19 and potential risks.
In 2021, Hydroxychloroquine was listed as the 116th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with over 5 million prescriptions. It was also included in the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
In 2021, India included hydroxychloroquine in its recommended treatment for mild cases of COVID-19.
As of 2024, scientific evidence does not support the use of hydroxychloroquine, alone or with azithromycin, for treating COVID-19.
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