The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising health care workers of a potential interaction when remdesivir is co-administered with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate. The advisory is based on a recently completed nonclinical laboratory study demonstrating an "antagonistic effect of chloroquine on the intracellular metabolic activation and antiviral activity of remdesivir."

The agency states that although it is "not aware of instances of this reduced activity occurring in the clinical setting," it is "continuing to evaluate all data related to remdesivir."

Read the full FDA announcement here. The FDA is revising the fact sheet for health care providers.

In May, remdesivir received an emergency use authorization for treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with severe disease, allowing for the drug to be distributed in the U.S. and administered intravenously by health care providers, as appropriate, to patients with low blood oxygen levels or needing oxygen therapy or more intensive breathing support such as a mechanical ventilator.

Clinical Topics: COVID-19 Hub, Novel Agents, Statins

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Infections, Hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, United States Food and Drug Administration, COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Chloroquine, Antiviral Agents, Drug Interactions

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