Why China Taiwan and Vietnam have Outstanding Covid-19 Survival

The Henry Ford Hospitals group study of 2,500 patients, showed promising results that Hydroxychloroquine could reduce Covid-19 mortality by about half compared to those not given the drug. (1)

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) also shared positive views on the drug's benefits. (2)

Dr Joseph Ladapo found early use of hydroxychloroquine by people who were not hospitalized yielded a statistically significant 24% reduction in risk of infection, hospitalization, or death. (3)

Furthermore, analysis of 118 hydroxychloroquine studies(4) confirms:

Hydroxychloroquine is effective in Covid-19. 

The probability of an ineffective treatment generated results as positive as the 118 studies to date is estimated to be 1 in 23 million (p= 0.000000043)

Early treatment is most effective in 100% of studies reporting a positive effect and an estimated reduction of 63% in effect measured ( death, hospitalization, etc) using a random effect analysis. RR 0.37(0.30-0.47)

100% of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) for early, Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), or Post-exposure prophylaxis (PE)P treatment report positive effects, the probability of this happening for an ineffective treatment is 0.002.

Taiwan has 47 cases of Covid-19 infections compared to Australia 1,156 cases per million people.

Taiwan has a case fatality rate of 0.5 deaths per million people compared with Australia 35 deaths per million. (5) 

Furthermore, Vietnam has 29 cases of Covid-19 compared to Australia 1,156.

Vietnam has a low case fatality rate of 0.4 deaths per million people.

There was a very rapid expansion of off label use of hydroxychloroquine after President Trump recommended this medication that contributed to this outstanding very low Covid-19 mortality in Taiwan that is 70 times superior to that of Australia. (5)

There was a swiftly increasing rate (approximately 6-fold within 2 days) of self-purchased prescriptions of Hydroxychloroquine commencing from the first news release about Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. (6)

In Vietnam, many people had purchased the medication after rumours circulated that the drug could prevent and cure Covid-19.

This occurred after United States President Donald Trump asked the United States Food and Drug Administration to streamline the regulatory approval process for the generic antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for Covid-19. (7) 

This widespread purchasing of hydroxychloroquine contributed to the excellent covid-19 survival rate in Vietnam that is 87.5 times superior to that of Australia. (5)

China also commenced chloroquine early in the management of Covid-19. (8)

They have 63 infections per million people and 3 deaths per million people. (5).

Their death rate is 11.6 times superior to Australia. (5)

TLC Receives Australian and Taiwan Approval to Initiate Phase I Clinical Trial of TLC19 Inhalable Liposomal Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

The Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) in Australia has received approval for the Company’s Phase I clinical trial of TLC19 Hydroxychloroquine Liposome Inhalation Suspension for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). (9)

The HREC is constituted by the requirements of the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and reviews clinical trial proposals to ensure that they are ethically and scientifically acceptable and have been developed under relevant standards and guidelines. 

The approval comes following the acceptance of TLC’s investigational new drug (IND) application with the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA).

TLC19 is liposomal suspension of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for inhalation. 

Hydroxychloroquine has outstanding results in prophylaxis and/or treatment for COVID-19 in in vitro and clinical trial studies.

Conclusion

The Queensland government forbids the use of hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure for COVID-19.

Moreover, medical practitioners may receive an on the spot fine of $1334, a court-imposed penalty of up to $13,345- or 6-months imprisonment if they disobey the above directive. (10)

On scientific merit, hydroxychloroquine should be immediately approved in Australia for early use in the management of covid-19 because it will save many lives.

References

1) M S Seshadri, T. Jacob John, “Experts explain: The case for using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat Covid-19”, The Indian Express, July 15, 2020, https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/coronavirus-vaccine-hydroxychloroquine-hcq-covid-19- treatment-6504276/; “Treatment with Hydroxychloroquine Cut Death Rate Significantly in Covid-19 Patients”, Henry Ford Health Systems Study Shows”, Henry Ford Health System, July 2, 2020, https://www.henryford.com/news/2020/07/hydrotreatment-study

2) “Hydroxychloroquine has about 90 percent chance of helping Covid-19 patients”, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, (AAPS), April 27, 2020, https://aapsonline.org/hcq-90-percent-chance/

3) Joseph A. Ladapo, John E. McKinnon, Peter A. McCullough, Harvey Risch. Randomized Controlled Trials of Early Ambulatory Hydroxychloroquine in the Prevention of COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death: Meta-Analysis. Meta-analysis Suggests Hydroxychloroquine Benefit Outside Hospitals - Medscape - Oct 02, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.30.20204693

4) Rowen Dean. Statistical analysis of 118 studies proves 'efficacy' of Hydroxychloroquine. Sky News Australia .25 October 2020

5) COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. Last updated: April 28, 2021, 08:08 GMT. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

6) Shih-Chieh Shao. Management of Irrational Self-Purchase of Hydroxychloroquine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences From the Largest Healthcare System in Taiwan. J Patient Saf. 2021 Jan; 17(1): e43–e44.

7) Anh Kiet. People must not buy chloroquine to treat coronavirus: Ministry. March 24, 2020. https://hanoitimes.vn/people-must-not-buy-malaria-drug-for-covid-19-cure-moh-311479.html

8) Professor Didier Raoult .Thinking Otherwise. Treatment of COVID 19 (Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin).29 March 2020.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnM_rmphkco

9) Intrada GlobalNewswire.6 October 2020. TLC Receives Australian and Taiwan Approval to Initiate Phase I Clinical Trial of TLC19 Inhalable Liposomal Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19.https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/10/07/2104662/0/en/TLC-Receives-Australian-and-Taiwan-Approval-to-Initiate-Phase-I-Clinical-Trial-of-TLC19-Inhalable-Liposomal-Hydroxychloroquine-for-COVID-19.html

10) Queensland Government. Prescribing, Dispensing or Supply of Hydroxychloroquine Direction.28 April 2020.https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/prescribing,-dispensing-or-supply-of-hydroxychloroquine-direction