Quinine Sulfate for COVID-19 Treatment | CPAA – Dove Medical Press

Irma Rahayu Latarissa,¹ Melisa Intan Barliana,^2,3 Anna Meiliana,⁴ Keri Lestari^1,3

¹Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia; ²Department of Biological Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia; ³Center of Excellence in Higher Education for Pharmaceutical Care Innovation, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia; ⁴Prodia Clinical Laboratory, Central Jakarta, Indonesia

Correspondence: Keri Lestari
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Raya Bandung Sumedang KM. 21, Jatinangor, Bandung, 45363, Indonesia
Email [email protected]

Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently the largest and most serious health crisis in the world. There is no definitive treatment for COVID-19. Vaccine administration has begun in various countries, but no vaccine is 100% effective. Some people are not protected after vaccination, and there are some groups of people who cannot be vaccinated therefore, research on COVID-19 treatment still needs to be done. Of the several drugs under study, chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are quite controversial, although they have good activity against SARS-CoV-2, both drugs have serious side effects. Indonesia with its wealth of natural ingredients has one potential compound, quinine sulfate (QS), which has the same structure and activity as CQ and HCQ and a better safety profile. The aim of this article was to review the potential of QS against the SARS-Cov-2 virus and outline its safety profile. We conclude that QS has the potential to be developed as a COVID-19 treatment with a better safety profile than that of CQ and HCQ.

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently a very serious health problem in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) categorized the disease as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The infection, which is caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is spreading rapidly to various countries.^1,2

Currently, there is no definitive treatment for COVID-19. Various efforts are being made on a global and national scale to deal with the spread of this infection. Research on drugs that can be used to treat COVID-19 continues, among which are Chloroquine (CQ) and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). However, the use of these two drugs caused serious side effects such that on November 13, 2020, the Indonesia Food and Drug Administration issued a notification letter regarding the revocation of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for CQ and HCQ. Previously, the United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) had revoked the EUA for CQ and HCQ on June 15, 2020. Subsequently, the WHO stopped the clinical trial (Solidarity Trial) of HCQ because the drug’s potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks.³

Indonesia, with its wealth of natural ingredients, …….

Source: https://www.dovepress.com/potential-of-quinine-sulfate-for-covid-19-treatment-and-its-safety-pro-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CPAA