This isn't true. We do make it here in the USA, but you are not going to find it in a local pharmacy at this point. Novartis has 50 Million doses in NY that they are donating to the USA, and has promised to crank out 80 Million more by May, also donated to the USA. Mylan is another US Pharma company that makes it in WV, and is ramping up production. They say they have enough on hand to produce 50 Million tablets by April. It is also made in Germany, Israel and France, and probably China and India. I'm sure there are others that will quickly begin cranking it out. Is that enough? I don't know, but it's a start. It should at least buy us some time.
It does, however, illustrate just how badly betrayed the US has been by its elected leadership over the past 50 years that we didn’t keep war stocks of the stuff around. It’s not like we haven’t found ourselves in wars in places where we could really use it.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-novartis-idUSKBN2172ZW
Yep, here’s a link to confirm everything you wrote
Population of US and Europe is over 600 million.
Maybe 200 million doses on hand. I’d a pt requires 10 doses (presuming “dose” is not a complete therapeutic treatment), then it will supply 20 million pts. Is it enough? Probably if people self isolate and “flatten the curve.” If not and we get an Italy situation, then no.
Of course, a lot depends on the manufacturing capacity of hydrochloroquine, supply of precursors, and how fast manufacturing of machinery and precursor chemicals can be ramped up.
It’s a race.
Thanks for the facts.
Chloroquine has been and is being used regularly for tough infections.
It is not an ancient drug.