Combined prophylactic and therapeutic use maximizes hydroxychloroquine anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects in vitro

Nicola Clementi; Elena Criscuolo; Roberta Antonia Diotti; Roberto Ferrarese; Matteo Castelli; Roberto Burioni; Massimo Clementi; Nicasio Mancini

On the contrary, a significant antiviral activity was observed in the prophylactic/therapeutic (full-time) experimental setting both at 37°C and 4°C, as evidenced both by CPE and RT-PCR analyses. This observation allows to speculate on the need of a combined prophylactic and therapeutic clinical use of HCQ on in order to maximise its antiviral effects. In the atypical scenario of an ongoing pandemic, pre-clinical medical research should be focused on simple and fast observations potentially useful for the prompt set up of clinical trials. As an example, our observation could be easily translated in a clinical study on extremely high-risk categories, such as health care workers, based on the prophylactic administration of HCQ followed by its therapeutic use in case of positivity to SARS-CoV-2. The time is crucial during a pandemic and the correct clinical repurposing of HCQ could be really invaluable. author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.