Cipla Manufacture Malaria Drug In Response To Government’s Covid-19 Request

With the global (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting a global clinical trial, called SOLIDARITY, to identify possible treatment options for this contagious disease. The malaria treatment, hydroxychloroquine is one of the four drugs being used in the trial.

The Ministry of Health in Uganda has proposed using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients in the country. Hydroxychloroquine is also currently used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

As part of Uganda’s COVID-19 response, President Yoweri Museveni recently called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to reach an agreement where India will expedite export 750kgs of the hydroxychloroquine active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to Uganda’s Cipla QCIL to enable local production of the drug. The API is currently being exported and CiplaQCIL says it will start the manufacturing process within the next few days.

CEO of CiplaQCIL, Nevin Bradford, says the company is gearing up to fast-track production of this drug to meet the estimated requirements.

“Naturally, we do earnestly hope that the medication will not be required as Uganda has implemented restrictions such as lockdown and a night curfew to help flatten the curve. In that case, the medicine will be used for its initially approved indications,” he said.