Globally, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) became the focus of numerous trials following the declaration that it could be a game-changer. Based on previous studies, hydroxychloroquine facilitated the recovery of patients from COVID-19. Initially, it was approved by the FDA for emergency use, but later the decision was quickly reversed when numerous deaths were reported due to heart arrhythmias. All these contradictory results on the use of HCQ in patients with COVID-19 brought many clinical trials to a halt.
A recent study conducted by scientists in Germany demonstrated that HCQ was not effective in the treatment of COVID-19. In this study, HCQ was tested on different cell types, and its effects were studied individually. Kidney cells require an enzyme called cathepsin L for the virus to infect them while lung cells require another enzyme TMPRSS2. An acidic environment is required by cathepsin…
