Indian Malaria Drug Hydroxychloroquine is Trump’s Panacea for Coronavirus
SOCIETY /
American President Donald Trump
is so fascinated by the healing capabilities of the Indian anti-malaria drug
hydroxychloroquine that he has forgotten his bonhomie with the Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and gone to the extent of threatening retaliatory
actions if India does not permit exports of the drug to America.
Hydroxychloroquine Has Shown Some Positive
Results in Treating Covid-19
Hydroxychloroquine has been
successfully used by some doctors in the treatment of coronavirus and has been
termed as a game-changer by Trump in the fight against coronavirus.
Hydroxychloroquine is popularly
known as an antiviral agent has displayed strong antiviral effects on the
coronavirus infection and is currently being experimented by many countries as
a possible treatment for SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19. China found that
chloroquine could slow down SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, and indicated apparent
efficacy in treating COVID-19 in humans. A small trial in France also found
hydroxychloroquine to be a promising potential treatment.
The findings have prompted
Trump to advocate hydroxychloroquine as a game-changer in the fight against
Covid-19. New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and many others have also echoed
Trump’s optimism and advocated its use.
The US drug regulator, the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), authorized “compassionate use” of
hydroxychloroquine (or chloroquine) for severely ill patients in mid-March and
recently ratified its emergency use. The drug is being prescribed to Covid-19
patients in New York City, the epicenter of the American outbreak. WHO has also
added the drug to its large global solidarity trial to test a variety of
potential treatments. But virologists and infectious disease experts term the
excitement as premature.
Why India Banned Exports of
Hydroxychloroquine
The Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) has recommended HCQ for use as a preventive medication for
Covid-19 high-risk groups. It has also prescribed the drug for persons involved
in the care of “suspected or confirmed cases of the coronavirus, healthcare
workers involved in the treatment of COVID-19,” and for asymptomatic household
contacts of laboratory-confirmed patients. Reportedly, each COVID-19 patient
needs 14 tablet courses. India needs around 24 million tablets per year for the
treatment of lupus, malaria, and rheumatoid arthritis.
India manufactures 70% of the
world’s supply of and exports elsewhere. Ipca Laboratories, an international
pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai, India is the top manufacturer of
hydroxychloroquine globally.
The order was given because of
the growing number of positive cases of Covid-19 with the current tally
standing at 5,194 positive and more than 149 deaths, according to the latest
data released by India’s Ministry of Health.
Why is the US Divided on Hydroxychloroquine?
Trump has termed
hydroxychloroquine as a potential “game-changer”, whereas experts of his
coronavirus task force and other virologists and infectious disease experts say
the excitement as premature. The experts have warned against over-hyping the
drug that is yet to pass the safe remedy test, particularly for patients with
cardiac issues. An article in The
Lancet medical journal, warned of dangerous side effects if
the dose of hydroxychloroquine is not carefully administered. After reports of
adverse side effects, some hospitals in Sweden stopped prescribing
hydroxychloroquine to coronavirus patients, according to Swedish news media.
However, doctors in New York and elsewhere have been administering it in
desperation, even without conclusive scientific studies.
Trump’s brazenness in pressing
the use of hydroxychloroquine over the advice of advisers, like Dr. Anthony S.
Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease specialist, has raised questions
about his motives. According to the New
York Times, if hydroxychloroquine becomes an accepted treatment,
numerous pharmaceutical companies and their shareholders and senior executives
with proximity to the President stand to gain. Trump also has a financial
interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker, which makes Plaquenil, the brand name
for hydroxychloroquine. Trump has three family trusts, each had investments as
of last year in a mutual fund whose largest holding was Sanofi, according to
the New York Times.
The New York Times quoted
Dr. Joshua Rosenberg, the medical director at Brooklyn Hospital
Center, as “I understand why the president is pushing it. The president of the
United States has to project hope when there is a situation without hope. Even
if there isn’t a lot of science behind it, at this point, hydroxychloroquine is
the best, most available option for use.”
According to others in the
current political scenario, Trump needs a miracle to get reelected. If
hydroxychloroquine turns out to be a panacea, he can say, “I did it, America. I
saved all your lives” and claim that he defeated Covid-19 in order to sweep the
elections.
India’s Reaction to Trump’s Comments
The US President’s comments
haven’t gone down well with many in India, with critics pointing out that
Trump’s rude behavior was uncalled for when Modi had already agreed to help.
After Trump’s remarks, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that India would
supply essential drugs to nations affected by Covid-19. Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said “Given the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic,
India would license hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol in appropriate
quantities to all our neighboring countries who are dependent on our
capabilities. We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations
who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic.”
Because of the growing demand
for hydroxychloroquine, Indian pharmaceutical companies are ramping up monthly
production of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine by four hundred percent to
40 metric tons by the end of April and five to six hundred percent to over 70
metric tons by May. Indian Malaria Drug Hydroxychloroquine is Trump’s Panacea for Coronavirus
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