Published online: "Design and Synthesis of Hydroxyferroquine Derivatives with Antimalarial and Antiviral Activities"

“Whereas CQ has been shown to inhibit SARS-CoV replication in vitro, the mode of action of this compound is currently still unknown.” At this point, the article cites: “Vincent, M. J.; Bergeron, E.; Benjannet, S.; Erickson, B. R.; Rollin,
P. E.; Ksiazek, T. G.; Seidah, N. G.; Nichol, S. T. Chloroquine is a potent inhibitor of SARS coronavirus infection and spread. Virol. J. 2005, 2, 69.” The publishing of this other article is already in this timeline (22/08/2005). 

The article concludes this point: “ In fact, CQ had been quoted as potentially active against SARS-CoV. 24 The current data supports this hypothesis and extend the anti-SARS-CoV potential further to CQ derivatives such as, in particular, the metallocenes FQ, 3, and 4.” And: “Our results showed that HFQ derivatives appear as promising new antimalarial molecules, since they are active with their potential metabolites against CQ-resistant P. falciparum. Moreover, we showed that these drugs have anti-HIV and anti-SARS-CoV activities. ”

Abstract: “Three ferroquine (FQ) derivatives, closely mimicking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), have been prepared. Whereas these organometallic compounds provide the expected reduced cytotoxic effects compared to FQ, they inhibit in vitro growth of Plasmodium falciparum far better than chloroquine (CQ). Moreover, this new class of bioorganometallic compounds exert antiviral effects with some selectivity toward SARS-CoV infection. These new drugs may offer an interesting alternative for Asia where SARS originated and malaria has remained endemic.”