The Swiss newspaper Zontag-Zeitung quoted Novartis CEO Fas Narasimhan as saying on Sunday that the drug "hydroxychloroquine" used to treat malaria, lupus and arthritis is the company's greatest hope in the face of the emerging corona virus.
Novartis has pledged 130 million doses, and supports the clinical trials needed before approving the use of the drug to treat the Corona virus. US President Donald Trump has previously promoted this drug as a possible treatment for the new virus.
Narasimhan added to the newspaper, "The pre-clinical studies on animals as well as the first data from the clinical studies show that hydroxychloroquine kills the Corona virus ... We are working with Swiss hospitals on possible treatment protocols for the clinical use of the drug, but it is too early to say anything conclusively."
He added that the company is currently looking for additional active pharmaceutical ingredients to produce more hydroxychloroquine, if the clinical trials are successful.