US President Trump and Indian PM Modi, in a telephonic conversation, discussed how to deploy full strength to combat the virus. Trump also asked PM Modi to release the US’ order of anti-malaria medicine hydroxychloroquine that can aid the COVID-19 treatment. Complete Coverage: Coronavirus
Crux of the Matter
India – A Responsible Country PM Modi has been in constant touch with his counterparts across the globe. On Saturday, he had a telephonic conversation with his newest ally Donald Trump. Like other nations, the US has also asked India to dispatch hydroxychloroquine. Trump said that the US is going to have a very tough week ahead as many people are expected to succumb to COVID-19. As many as 30 other nations from Europe to Latin America, have also requested India for the supply of hydroxychloroquine. This medicine is primarily used to cure Malaria.
PM Modi, responding to Trump, said that India is a responsible country and it will do all it can to supply the anti-malarial drug. It must be noted that India is the largest manufacturer of hydroxychloroquine. As the number of cases in India is rising, India is stockpiling this medicine to fight the domestic cases. It also banned the export of all essential medicines from 5th April 2020.
The FDA has been working closely with other government agencies and academic centers that are investigating the use of the drug chloroquine, which is already approved for treating malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, to determine whether it can be used to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to potentially reduce the duration of symptoms, as well as viral shedding, which can help prevent the spread of disease. Studies are underway to determine the efficacy in using chloroquine to treat COVID-19. US Food & Drug Administration
Drug Cocktails Until Vaccine Many countries, including China, South Korea, the US, and India administered hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms and found that it helped elongate the time of virus spread, reducing the intensity of symptoms and providing sufficient time to the patient’s body for developing antibodies. Tuberculosis vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) administered by India to newborn children may also be a useful medicine. Although it does not cure Coronavirus, it reduces the intensity. It must be noted that the BCG vaccine was effective against SARS – a former version of Coronavirus.
India, however, has put a ban on the export of all essential medical supplies including test kits, ventilators, masks, medicines, etc. as the number of cases in India is doubling at a 4.1-day rate after the Tablighi Jamaat incident. As on 6th April 2020, the number of cases in India has crossed the 4,000-mark and deaths have breached the 100-mark. The nation seeking help from India, the US has approximately 3,30,000 cases as of 5th April 2020 which had only around 300 cases a month ago. The death toll in the US is nearing 10,000.
Curiopedia
Hydroxychloroquine
Some of the major manufacturers of hydroxychloroquine in India are Wallace Pharma, Zydus Takeda, IPCA Labs and Mangalam Drugs & Organics.
After chloroquine was extensively used in WW2, its toxicities in the compound were noted and then in 1945, a modification was made through hydroxylation to make it less toxic.
Since then, chloroquine is termed as hydroxychloroquine and still remains in use to treat Malaria, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.
Hydroxychloroquine is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines and was 128th most prescribed medicine in 2017 in the USA.
Curated Coverage
Hindustan Times – ‘Will do all we can’: How PM Modi responded to Trump’s request on Covid-19 drug
Swarajya Magazine – Coronavirus: 30 Nations Request India For Hydroxychloroquine Supply
Economic Times – Government bans export of sanitisers, all types of ventilators
Reuters – India curbs diagnostic testing kit exports as virus spreads
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