Lessons learnt from hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin in treatment of COVID-19

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still causing great influence on global health and economy. The initial fight against COVID-19 relied mainly on non-pharmacologic measures including social distancing, facial masks, active screening and isolation, etc. In terms of pharmacologic interventions, huge progress has been made in the development of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), although the appearance of several mutant variants has raised concerns for lasting immunity. The repurposing of established drugs has been another strategy to search for weapons in treatment or prophylaxis against COVID-19. Although immuno-modulating drugs including corticosteroids have been demonstrated with therapeutic effects, no anti-viral medications have so far been shown protective.