HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE (HCQ) AS AN EMERGING AND PROMISING DRUG CANDIDATE IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) belongs to the class of 4-aminoquinolines. It is a hydroxylated version of chloroquine with a similar mechanism of action but rather a safe profile. It is primarily an antimalarial drug but has been extensively used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, porphyria, discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus as well. Most recently, this drug has found a place in the treatment of COVID-19 with successful results. It is relatively a safer drug to treat COVID-19 in pregnant ladies, diabetic and hypertensive patients. This molecule has found its successful and safer use as a pediatric drug. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed hydroxychloroquine as an investigational drug for efficacy against SARS-COV-II. COVID-19 is spreading at a tremendous rate, and we need a less expensive drug against the virus, especially in countries with high poverty. The production cost of this drug is very low, and so is its retail cost. These collective advantages of hydroxychloroquine make it a suitable, effective, safer, and readily available drug candidate for COVID-19 patients.