Last reviewed · How we verify
standard dose of HCQ
Hydroxychloroquine is a quinoline antimalarial that accumulates in lysosomes and inhibits toll-like receptor signaling and antigen presentation, reducing inflammatory and autoimmune responses.
Hydroxychloroquine is a quinoline antimalarial that accumulates in lysosomes and inhibits toll-like receptor signaling and antigen presentation, reducing inflammatory and autoimmune responses. Used for Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid arthritis, Malaria prophylaxis and treatment.
At a glance
| Generic name | standard dose of HCQ |
|---|---|
| Also known as | HCQ standard |
| Sponsor | University of Sao Paulo General Hospital |
| Drug class | Antimalarial immunosuppressant |
| Target | Toll-like receptors (TLR7, TLR9); phospholipase C |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Immunology; Rheumatology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
HCQ concentrates in acidic cellular compartments and interferes with endosomal toll-like receptor activation, particularly TLR7 and TLR9, thereby suppressing interferon production and B-cell activation. It also inhibits phospholipase C and reduces calcium signaling, contributing to its broad immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects. These mechanisms make it effective in autoimmune and rheumatologic conditions.
Approved indications
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Malaria prophylaxis and treatment
- Sjögren's syndrome
Common side effects
- Retinopathy
- Gastrointestinal disturbance (nausea, diarrhea)
- Headache
- Pruritus
- Cardiomyopathy (rare, with long-term use)
Key clinical trials
- Venlafaxine as Adjunct Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis (PHASE2)
- AIPH-TB: AI-Optimised Pyrazinamide-Hydroxychloroquine vs Standard RIPE for Drug-Sensitive Pulmonary Tuberculosis - A Phase II RCT (PHASE2)
- Early Adalimumab Induction for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Associated Inflammatory Arthritis (PHASE2)
- Analysis of T and B Cell Repertoire Changes in Response to Orencia® (Abatacept) in Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Effects of Telitacicept vs Cyclophosphamide on Lupus Related Interstitial Lung Disease (PHASE4)
- Hydroxychloroquine in Combination With Encorafenib and Cetuximab or Panitumumab in the Treatment of Metastatic BRAF-mutated Colorectal Cancer Refractory (PHASE2)
- Sorafenib Induced Autophagy Using Hydroxychloroquine in Hepatocellular Cancer (PHASE2)
- Immunosuppressant Management in Rheumatology Patients Undergoing Elective Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- standard dose of HCQ CI brief — competitive landscape report
- standard dose of HCQ updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University of Sao Paulo General Hospital portfolio CI