Clinical Trial of Antimalarial as Repurposing Drug for COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a global search for effective treatments, leading to the exploration of repurposing existing drugs, including antimalarials, for their potential efficacy against the virus. This study reviews clinical trials of antimalarial drugs such as Quinine Sulfate (QS), Atovaquone (AQ), and Artemisinin-Piperaquine (AP) for COVID-19 treatment.

Quinine Sulfate (QS) showed potential in vitro and in silico studies for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication, but clinical trials in Indonesia with mild-moderate COVID-19 patients did not show significant differences in outcomes between the treatment and control groups, possibly due to the small sample size.

Atovaquone (AQ), known for its antimalarial and antiviral properties, was tested in a clinical trial in China. Despite promising in vitro results, the trial did not find significant efficacy differences between the AQ and control groups, potentially due to the small sample size and the use of remdesivir as a standard therapy.

Artemisinin-Piperaquine (AP) demonstrated significant results in a clinical trial in China, reducing the time to reach undetectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. However, AP was associated with a significant increase in QT interval, a measure of heart rhythm, indicating potential cardiotoxicity.

The study concludes that while AP shows promise as a treatment for COVID-19, the potential side effects and the limited scope of evidence necessitate further research. The findings underscore the importance of continued exploration into the repurposing of antimalarial drugs for COVID-19 treatment, with a focus on safety and efficacy in larger, more diverse clinical trials.