"Chloroquine Manufacture"
https://sci-hub.tw/10.1021/ie50472a002
I mention chloroquine specifically because
a) It looks like it was effective at a lower concentration than remdesivir, according to this Nature article.
b) It's a simpler molecule. High volume production started back during World War II.
https://www.shine.cn/biz/economy/2002202403/ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2162276/1-pakistan-effective-dr...
I bought some. My experience - Bali - no one had any. Singapore - rare, need a persceiption. UK can get from online pharmacists by saying you are going to a malarial area. (£13 for 20 tabs) which is what I did. India it's about 1 or 2p/tab but they are not officially allowed to ship overseas. I got quoted $90 to ship 600 tabs overseas.
It would be great if chloroquinine is back in production.
>Multinational and local drugmakers are speeding up manufacturing and supply of chloroquine phosphate after the anti-malarial drug was included in the latest version of treatment guidelines for novel coronavirus pneumonia by the National Health Commission.
>China Resources Group now has inventory of more than 325,000 boxes and is preparing for further demand
https://www.marketscreener.com/BAYER-AG-436063/news/Bayer-to...
It mentions "antibiotics and analgesics" but not quinine, but I'll accept you've seen a more detailed report.
I was unable to find a report saying that Chloroquine lines have started back up.
By HCQ do you mean Quinine Hydrochloride as is found in Tonic Water? Do you have any links to studies showing it has "similar effectiveness" as Chloroquine in treatment? I'm taking Quinine Hydrochloride at present since it's harmless and available, but have not seen any studies about it specifically regarding the new virus.
That is (historically) why it's there (and called 'tonic') after all, for malaria, which is also mentioned as a use on the chloroquine page.
See: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04261517
You're right about it being much cheaper. A bit over a decade ago, I was looking into a 2-year supply of antimalarial medication for an extended stay in a place where malaria is a big problem, and where I would not have ready access to refill such medication. That amount of chloroquine would have cost me many thousands of dollars.
A doctor recommended hydroxychloroquine instead and after I demonstrated my intent to be abroad for such an extended period (had to show documents) a compounding pharmacist filled the prescription for around USD $20.