Chloroquine has been approved as a drug to treat Covid -19 in the U.S.

Press release by the Human and Health Services confirms that Chloroquine has been approved by the FDA to treat emergency COVID-19 patients in the U.S.

On March 28, 2020, FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the use of Chloroquine Phosphate or Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate supplied from the Strategic National Stockpile for Treatment of 2019 Coronavirus Disease. These drugs are to be used as the first EUA for a drug-related to the COVID-19 response.

Although, the FDA reiterated that Chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate are not FDA-approved for the treatment of COVID-19. Some versions of chloroquine phosphate are approved by FDA for prophylaxis and malaria and the treatment of extraintestinal amebiasis. Several versions of hydroxychloroquine sulfate are approved by FDA for prophylaxis and treatment of malaria, treatment of lupus erythematosus, and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The safety profile of these drugs has only been studied for FDA approved indications and not COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.