On Wednesday, India has lifted the export ban on hydroxychloroquine, the malaria drug that has been touted as a potential “game-changer” in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
President Donald Trump has been quite optimistic about the drug’s ability to treat and prevent COVID-19, the infection caused by the new coronavirus; however, experts say there is no enough scientific evidence that the drug works for COVID-19.
India’s minister for chemicals and fertilizers, Sadananda Gowda, tweeted, “Department of Pharmaceuticals has approved the lifting of ban on Export of Hydroxychloroquine API as well as formulations.”
“Manufacturers except SEZ/EOU Units have to supply 20% production in the domestic market,” he added, “DGFT has been asked to issue formal notification in this regard.”
India is one of the leading exporters of generic medicines across the globe. In March, the Indiana government banned the export of hydroxychloroquine and its formulations as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted supply chains.
However, India eased some of these restrictions in April, shipping 50 million tablets of hydroxychloroquine to the United States that month, according to Reuters.
Trump’s exaggeration about the drug had initially raised expectations for the COVID-19 treatment. However, there have been conflicting reports of its safety and efficacy, causing confusion about the drug.
Last week, British scientists stopped a major clinical trial after it found that hydroxychloroquine was ineffective at treating COVID-19 patients.
One study, published in the medical journal Lancet, found that the drug increased the risk of death in coronavirus patients. Another study has found that the drug increased the risk of cardiovascular events, such as arrhythmia.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it will resume its trial of hydroxychloroquine for potential use against the COVID-19 after researchers running the same study briefly stopped giving it to new patients over cardiovascular concerns.
Indian-based pharma companies IPCA Laboratories and Cadila Healthcare are two leading manufacturers of hydroxychloroquine. Sold under the brand name Plaquenil, hydroxychloroquine is advised for the prevention and treatment of malarial; however, it is also indicated in autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
