Identification of Falsified Chloroquine Tablets in Africa at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Type Journal Article Author Gesa Gnegel Author Cathrin Hauk Author Richard Neci Author Georges Mutombo Author Fidelis Nyaah Author Dorothee Wistuba Author Christine Häfele-Abah Author Lutz Heide URL http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0363 Rights © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene [open-access] This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Pages tpmd200363 Publication The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ISSN 0002-9637 Date 12/05/2020 Extra Publisher: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene DOI 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0363 Accessed 2020-07-04 15:04:38 Library Catalog www.ajtmh.org Language en Abstract Reports that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may be effective against COVID-19 have received worldwide attention, increasing the risk of the introduction of falsified versions of these medicines. Five different types of falsified chloroquine tablets were discovered between March 31, 2020 and April 4, 2020, in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo by locally conducted thin layer chromatographic analysis. Subsequent investigation by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry in Germany proved the absence of detectable amounts of chloroquine and the presence of undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients, that is, paracetamol and metronidazole, in four of the samples. The fifth sample contained chloroquine, but only 22% of the declared amount. Such products represent a serious risk to patients. Their occurrence exemplifies that once medicines or vaccines against COVID-19 may be developed, falsified products will enter the market immediately, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Timely preparations for the detection of such products are required, including the establishment of appropriate screening technologies in LMICs.