Tan Chen Wu et al. Luciana Sacilotto Francisco Carlos da Costa Darrieux Cristiano Faria Pisani … Sissy Lara de Melo Denise Tessariol Hachul Mauricio Scanavacca
Introduction
In December 2019, the first cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in Wuhan, China. Since the pandemic designation in March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), with intercontinental spread of the disease, we are intensely seeking for a safe and effective treatment.
In vitro studies have demonstrated some effect of chloroquine against the new coronavirus, mediated by the glycosylation of SARS-CoV cell receptors and by increased endosomal pH, blocking cell invasion by the virus. In addition to this antiviral activity, chloroquine, which is traditionally an immunomodulator, has shown to be promising for treatment of pneumonia that installs approximately one week after onset of symptoms.
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