Basel scientists have confirmed that the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and the HIV medication lopinavir do not work against Covid-19. The concentration of the two drugs in the lungs is not sufficient to fight the virus.
In February 2020 the University of Basel and the University Hospital Basel started to monitor a range of diagnostic means and potential treatments for Covid 19, including the use of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir.
In particular, the research group investigated how the virus-induced inflammation affected the concentration of lopinavir and hydroxychloroquine in the blood.
Scientists also worked out how high the concentration of both drugs must have been in the lungs – the main infected area for Covid-19.
The study, which has been published in the Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy journal, confirms the view taken by the World Health Organization (WHO). On July 4 it decided to discontinue trials of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 after the drugs failed to reduce mortality.
Manuel Battegay – co-leader of this study and head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology at the University Hospital in Basel – said that the results of the Basel study provided important pharmacological and antiviral insights to the rationale of discontinuing the lopinavir/ritonavir trials.
“In fact, they explain why hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir are not effective against the SARS-CoV-2,” the statement said.
Political debate
Hydroxychloroquine has been caught in a political debate after United States President Donald Trump promoted it, even though there was no scientific evidence that it helps against the new coronavirus.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who on Tuesday announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19, said he was taking hydroxychloroquine. He has previously urged his government to make the malaria drug widely available and encouraged Brazilians to take it, both to prevent the disease and to treat it.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Novartis ends hydroxychloroquine clinical trial
This content was published on
Swiss drug giant Novartis is ending its trial of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19 after failing to find enough participants.
Hydroxychloroquine study withdrawn over data concerns
This content was published on
Authors have withdrawn an influential article finding that hydroxychloroquine had no benefit against Covid-19, citing data concerns.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.