Repurposing quinine for severe COVID-19 – A preliminary study

Abstract

LiveWell Initiative LWI, a self funded nonprofit social enterprise (www.livewellng.org) has, for 5 years, supervised MPH and DrPH Practicums for the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston USA. It also supervises PhD thesis at University of Helsinki, Finland. The organization has repurposed quinine for use in moderate to severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by compiling three sets of STUDY PROTOCOLS in response to the COVID-19 RESPONSE with a goal to arriving at a practical and affordable solution to the pandemic. The protocols underwent debates and hypothesis testing among physicians, researchers, pharmacists and virologists. The protocols, still undergoing random Physician–Patient Trials at the discretion of prescribing clinicians and clinical researchers, are as recommended in a compilation of recent findings by LiveWell Initiative LWI on COVID-19. It is a study protocol designed to ‘evolve’ as a solution to COVID-19 response. The protocols strongly suggest the use of quinine for COVID-19 treatment in moderate to advanced disease, recommending intravenous infusion of quinine for critical care in COVID-19. The sample size in a preliminary study, though small, points at quinine for severe COVID-19. Further studies are recommended but the result of this preliminary study is significant. The preliminary results were positive, and were posted online even as the concurrent study continues. The 4-aminoquinolines have the same characteristic effects on the coronavirus, and quinine is the potential COVID-19 eradication tool. In conclusion, quinine is impactful with positive outcomes for severe or advanced COVID-19 especially after the cytokine storm, with 5-7 days total recovery after the onset of the cytokine storm. Due to small preliminary sample size with 100% positive outcome, a full study should be commissioned to establish and quantify the impact of quinine on thousands in a population. This will help to prevent further morbidity in COVID-19 and the cytokine storm will be greatly overcome.