The issuance of Plaquenil, a drug derived from chloroquine, in the spotlight as promoted by some as a possible treatment for Covid-19, is now governed by a decree published on Thursday, which notably prohibits its export.
This drug based on hydroxychloroquine, a derivative of the antimalarial chloroquine, cannot be used "in the management of Covid-19 in [city] medicine", underlined the agency of the drug, the ANSM , while this treatment is currently the subject of a massive demand.
A decree published on Thursday takes a series of measures: limiting the supply of Plaquenil in pharmacies to its strict medical indications (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and in the prevention of lucitis - sun allergies) and ban on the export of specialties containing hydroxychloroquine or the combination lopinavir / ritonavir, antivirals also tested against Covid-19.
"Avoiding the risks of rupture"
It is a question of "protecting" the patients who need it and "avoiding the risks of rupture" of their treatment because of prescriptions "without any justification", says Dr. Dominique Martin, director general of the ANSM .
Health officials said on Tuesday that there was "no shortage" of chloroquine-based medicines, but associations of the chronically ill were alarmed by delays in delivery.
The decree also confirms, as announced by the Minister of Health Olivier Véran earlier this week, that by way of derogation, "hydroxychloroquine and the combination lopinavir / ritonavir may be prescribed, dispensed and administered under the responsibility of a doctor to patients with Covid-19 ".
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This must be done "in the health establishments which take charge of them, as well as for the continuation of their treatment if their condition allows it and with the authorization of the initial prescriber, at home". Olivier Véran added that the delivery of hydroxychloroquine would be limited to "serious cases".
