Malaria drug may protect lung cells against COVID-19: Scientists

The medicine Atovaquone has a protective effect both before and after infection with the coronavirus.

London: Researchers have found that medicine currently used to combat malaria can prevent infection with COVID-19 in different cells.

The medicine Atovaquone has a protective effect both before and after infection with the coronavirus in human cells in the laboratory, which means that it can in all probability be used both for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, said researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark.

Atovaquone has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As part of the medication Malarone, it has been used for the treatment and prevention of malaria since 1999.