Coronavirus: laboratories ready to increase their production of chloroquine

Text by: Pauline Gleize

The effectiveness and advisability of prescribing chloroquine or derivative molecules to patients with Covid-19 are still hotly debated in the scientific world. But as some countries already allow it in a more or less restrictive way, pharmaceutical companies have already taken up the subject.

Publicity

Requests have exploded in the United States where Donald Trump promoted the substance, but also in France. Something to worry people who are already treated with these molecules for other diseases. But, in France, it would be for the moment simply disruption in distribution and extended delivery times.

For the rest, it is already important to remember that chloroquine and one of its derivatives, hydroxychloroquine, are drugs which can be dangerous if they are not administered correctly. It should therefore especially not be taken without medical advice. No need to rush to the pharmacy. In France, since the “Véran decree”, prescription within the framework of Covid-19 is only possible in hospitals. On the other hand, the laboratories have already announced an increase in their production.

A "simple to produce" medicine

As to whether they can produce enough when needed, not all experts agree on this question. And gray areas remain. But Frédéric Bizard, health economist and president of the Health Institute, believes that there is no reason to worry.

" It is an old molecule used against malaria for more than 50 years," he explains. So there are significant production capacities because it is a molecule that is in the public domain. There is no patent and any pharmaceutical company can theoretically produce it. It's a simple production. There are big laboratories like Mylan or Teva which make generic drugs and which know how to produce this type of medication very quickly. "

Factories in Asia, of course, but not only. Sanofi can a priori produce in France and Spain Plaquénil based on hydroxychloroquine, the substance studied by Dr Didier Raoult . The factory of the French group in Morocco manufactures a drug based on chloroquine. Mylan resumes production of one of these substances in the United States. Greece is also reviving manufacturing. In short, all the shaping is not concentrated in the same place.

Active ingredients: the key to production

The doubt relates above all to the supply of active ingredient in the longer term. " The heart of the drug comes rather from India ," explains Frédéric Bizard. A Hungarian company makes it. But we do not really know the production capacity of the active ingredient. "

Especially since India and Hungary have banned or at least severely restricted exports of the active ingredient hydroxychloroquine.

An inexpensive molecule

Opinions also differ on the equal access of countries to these molecules. Frédéric Bizard underlines the relatively democratic nature of chloroquine and its derivatives. “ For Africa, the opportunity is that it is a molecule that costs very little. So we can think that through public aid or private donations, it would rather be a boon . "

Nathalie Coutinet, teacher and co-author of The Economics of Medicines , has more doubts about this. " One can imagine that the countries in which the molecule is produced will requisition it first, " she analyzes. Moreover, France has prohibited the export of hydroxyhloroquine, as a precaution. Morocco requisitioned stocks.

" We can also consider that there is a price battle," adds the economist. At that point, the Americans who have a much higher price for drugs could do well . All scenarios at the moment are possible. "

Donations from laboratories

But for the moment, no price war. Several laboratories have instead promised to give drugs. Novartis will donate up to 130 million doses by the end of May, Teva has promised 10 million doses in the United States. Sanofi offers at least 350,000 boxes. So why, this generosity? Sanofi says it simply wants to make its contribution to the building.

Nathalie Coutinet doubts, however, that this multiplication of donations is completely disinterested. “ We are facing an unequaled health crisis. The laboratories take advantage of it in quotes to restore their pretty bad image as a result of drug shortages, following the huge profits they make, the announcements of drugs that they would stop producing for financial reasons. This is probably the reason, says the economist. The price of these drugs is modest. So it's a great communication operation at a low cost for the laboratories. "

In any case, betting on an increase in production before even having confirmed the studies would represent a contained risk. Medicines being prescribed to treat other illnesses.

► Listen: Coronavirus: Pr. Moussa Seydi (Senegal) explains how he uses chloroquine

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