KUALA LUMPUR: Several drugs used for the treatment of malaria and HIV in Malaysia can also be used to treat Covid-19 patients, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The drugs are Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, which are prescribed either for prevention or treatment of malaria; as well as the combination of Lopinavir/Ritonavir, which is an antiviral medication used for HIV patients.
Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry will always ensure the adequate supply of antiviral drugs such as Favipiravir and Remdesivir for Covid-19 treatment.
“Malaysia has been chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to participate in the clinical study of the ‘Multicentre Adaptive Solidarity’ trial – Covid-19, in which the experimental medicine called Remdesivir will be used (to treat infected patients).
“The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency will provide expedited review routes to bring in the product for clinical studies to Malaysia as soon as possible.
“As for Favipiravir, the Health Ministry is getting the drugs from suppliers,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement on his Facebook page on Saturday.
In February, Reuters reported that Favipiravir, which is an anti-flu drug, is effective in helping coronavirus patients in China recover without any side-effects.
The drug was developed by a company in Japan and has been approved for manufacturing in China by Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co Ltd for use against new or recurring influenza in adults, the report said.
Meanwhile, Remdisivir is a novel anti-viral drug being tested in China and the United States for Covid-19 treatment.
Should there be insufficient supply for patients during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry would be able to obtain unregistered stock through the exemption of special legal approval provisions by the Health director-general and the ministry.
“The ministry will continuously monitor the situation through our registered product quality monitoring programmes and pharmacovigilance to ensure the quality, safety and effectiveness of the medicines for our patients,” he said.