Definitely. The State Department has a set of pages noting that mosquitoes with malaria have developed chloroquine resistance in every country with malaria, and recommends other drugs instead. The main manufacturer of chloroquine, Bayer, stopped producing it a while back. Not sure who if anyone even makes it these days. I'm assuming the Chinese trials are using some old stock.

They restarted old lines. These are not terribly hard to make. There was just no demand.

Do you know they (the Chinese presumably, if not who) restarted old lines, or are you guessing that you think they did?

It would be great if chloroquinine is back in production.

Cranking away: https://www.shine.cn/biz/economy/2002202403/

>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

It was reported in the news. Also Bayer donated a bunch to China from their stock in Pakistan. It's possible that HCQ, which is widely available, has similar effectiveness.

Thanks, that enabled me to find the 1/28 donation news:

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.

HCQ is hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial that is still widely available because it is used for autoimmune diseases. It is a prescription only drug. The antiviral property is described in this Lancet article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3...

Thanks!

It is made and used in some countries. Belize for example has non resistant malaria.

Not original poster, but thinking this was a joke about Tonic water that contains Quinine, a close relative of Chloroquine.

Wikipedia says chloroquine is 'a quinine' - is the only joke that the amount in tonic water isn't enough to have the desired effect?

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.

Apparently there is a study just starting related to coronavirus and hydroxychloroquine.

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.