COVID-19: NAFDAC Okays Trial Of Chloroquine

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has directed the immediate production of Chloroquine in the clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19.

Chloroquine has become a subject of controversy, following findings that the anti-malaria drug can cure COVID-19.

President Donald Trump of the United States of America on March 19, announced at a press conference that the U.S. had approved the use of Chloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.

NAFDAC, in a statement by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye noted the decision to commence the clinical trial was sequel to the breakthrough of the use of chloroquine in other countries to treat the virus.

The NAFDAC boss disclosed that clinical trial in France and U.S. showed that the anti-malaria drug was effective in the treatment of the virus.

She disclosed that Lagos State will commence the clinical trial on chloroquine to evaluate the effectiveness.

In her words, “In a very recent publication, chloroquine was reported in a press briefing by the State Council of China, indicating that chloroquine phosphate had demonstrated marked efficacy and acceptable safety in treating COVID-19 associated pneumonia in a multi-center clinical trials conducted in China.

“The study involved 10 hospitals in Wuhan, Jingzhou, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Ningbo, and 100 patients.

“The investigators reported that chloroquine phosphate is superior to the control in inhibiting the pneumonia associated with COVID-19, and shortening the course of the disease.

“It also interferes with the glycosylation of cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. This may inhibit the virus-receptor binding and terminate the infection.

“The antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of chloroquine contribute to the efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients.”

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