In vitro data suggest that chloroquine inhibits SARS Cov-2 replication.
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In past research, chloroquine has shown in vitro activity against many different viruses, but no benefit in animal models.
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Chloroquine has been proposed several times for the treatment of acute viral diseases in humans without success.
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The outcomes of some current clinical trials of chloroquine in China have been announced, without access to the data.
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Peer review of the results and an independent assessment of the potential benefit for patients are essential.
Abstract
Recent publications have brought attention to the possible benefit of chloroquine, a broadly used antimalarial drug, in the treatment of patients infected by the novel emerged coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The scientific community should consider this information in light of previous experiments with chloroquine in the field of antiviral research.