Hydroxychloroquine and Remdesivir in COVID-19: A critical analysis of recent events.

ABSTRACT

The world is going through an unprecedented medical emergency with no effective remedy for the SARS-CoV2 virus causing Covid-19. Two drugs used for other indications in the past, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and remdesivir (RDV), are sought to be repurposed to treat Covid-19. Both these drugs have received emergency use authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration. In this review, we critically analyse the identification of and subsequent events concerning these two drugs as potential treatment options for Covid-19, and conclude by raising some ethical issues that require serious thought from the global scientific community concerned with using these two drugs against Covid-19.

Key Words Covid-19, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, USFDA, emergency use authorisation

.