Development and Validation of "Ready-to-Use" Inhalable Forms of Hydroxychloroquine for Treatment of COVID-19

In this project, we aimed at developing new "Ready-to-Use" inhalable forms of HCQ that can be used directly through nebulization or using dry powder inhalers (DPIs). These inhaled forms would allow a simple and direct delivery of the drug (HCQ) specifically towards the throat and the lung which are the main sites for the COVID-19 viral infection. Hence, the drug can be available at higher concentrations in the throat and lungs as compared with the currently used treatment protocols, while minimizing the drug systemic concentrations and its presence in other body organs, and thus enhancing the drug efficacy with significantly limiting its side effects. Besides, using inhalable forms can be more convenient to patients suffering from gastrointestinal complications from the disease that can limit the absorption of oral forms. Moreover, the proposed inhalable forms are designed in such a way to hide the drug from the immune system (confer stealth characteristics) using FDA-approved excipients to minimize/avoid any immune response towards the drug as was noted towards it in its oral form that's used in the treatment protocol of COVID-19. In addition, the inhaled formulations will be designed to maintain the overall simplicity and scalability of the preparation which is critical during this urgent pandemic situation. The cost of the final formulation is also taken into consideration since the drug is intended for treatment of thousands or probably millions of patients around the world including countries with limited economic capabilities.