Covid-Organics Explained

Covid-Organics
Claims:Treatment against COVID-19
Origyear:2020
Origprop:Malagasy Institute of Applied Research

Covid-Organics (CVO) is an Artemisia-based drink that Andry Rajoelina, president of Madagascar, claims can prevent and cure Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The drink is produced from a species under the Artemisia genus[1] [2] [3] from which artemisinin is extracted for malaria treatment.[4] [5] No publicly available clinical trial data supports the safety or efficacy of this drink.

Covid-Organics was developed and produced in Madagascar by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research. Madagascar was the first country to decide to integrate Artemisia into COVID-19 treatment when the NGO Maison de l'Artemisia France contacted numerous African countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. At least one researcher from another part of Africa, Dr. Jérôme Munyangi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, contributed. Some of the research on Artemisia, led by African scientists, had been carried out in France and Canada.[6] On 20 April 2020, Rajoelina announced in a television broadcast that his country had found "preventive and curative" cure for COVID-19.[7] [8] [9] Rajoelina publicly sipped from a bottle of Covid-Organics and ordered a nation-wide distribution to families.[10] In 2022, Covid-Organics is not recommended by the WHO.[11]

World Health Organization

On 20 May 2020, Rajoelina announced on his Twitter account that the World Health Organization (WHO) will sign a confidentiality agreement with Madagascar regarding the formulation of CVO in order to perform clinical observation. On 21 May 2020, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom confirmed his video conference with Rajoelina, and that the WHO will cooperate with Madagascar on research and development of COVID-19 therapy.[12] The WHO does not recommend the use of non-pharmaceutical Artemisia plant matter.[13] The official position of WHO is that it "supports scientifically-proven traditional medicine"[14] and "recognizes that traditional, complementary and alternative medicine has many advantages".[15]

Controversy

A wide range of scientific criticism followed the launch of Covid-Organics from within and outside Africa. Before cooperating with Madagascar, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning against use of an untested COVID-19 remedy and said Africans deserve medicine that went through proper scientific trials. At the time, Covid-Organics efficacy and safety was tested on fewer than 20 people within a period of three weeks.[16] [17] [18] In order to meet established scientific standards, the two parties later agreed on a partnership for Covid-Organics to be registered for WHO's Solidarity trials, an international program for fast tracking clinical trials on COVID-19 treatment candidates.[19] The African Union (AU) demanded detailed scientific data on Covid-Organics for analysis by Africa CDC after it had been briefed by Madagascar authorities about the herbal remedy. [20] [21] [22] Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention expressed its interest in data for Covid-Organics for the purpose of quickly scaling up an effective and safe remedy. [23] In April, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) denied ordering a package of CVO after media reports that it had ordered for CVO and said the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) would only endorse products shown to be effective and safe for use through well-known scientific procedure.[24] [25] [26] As concerns about the safety of CVO grow, South Africa offered to help Madagascar conduct a clinical trial on the herbal tonic.[27]

There are concerns over widespread usage of Artemisia accelerating drug resistance toward ACTs for malaria treatment.[28]

Patronage

More than 19 African and Caribbean countries have taken delivery of CVO as of May 2020 to combat COVID-19.[29] [30] On 20 May, Ghanaian government finally placed an order for CVO for testing after weeks of pressure from Ghanaians that the herbal remedy be used to halt the spread of Coronavirus.[31] [32] At the end of April, Equatorial Guinea, among the first to express support for the remedy, sent a special envoy to Madagascar for a donated shipment of CVO. [33] Madagascar sent quantities of the product to at least 10 African countries in 2020.[34]

Covid-organics Plus

On 2 October 2020, President Andry Rajoelina inaugurated a medical factory named "Pharmalagasy" and officially started to produce CVO pills named "CVO-plus".[35] [36]

On 5 July 2021, WHO issued a statement announcing the completion of phase 3 clinical trials of the CVO+ dry capsule at the National Center for the Application of Pharmaceutical Research (CNARP) of Madagascar, indicating that the results will be reviewed by the Regional Expert Advisory Committee formed in partnership with Africa CDC. The committee will advise the manufacturer on the next steps to take.

See also

References

  1. Web site: Coronavirus: What is Madagascar's 'herbal remedy' Covid-Organics?. www.aljazeera.com. 12 May 2020.
  2. Web site: Artemisia: Madagascar's coronavirus cure or Covid-19 quackery?. 5 May 2020. RFI. en. 7 August 2022.
  3. Web site: Madagascar's 'Covid-Organics' born from local traditional. 1 May 2020. The Africa Report.com. en-US. 12 May 2020.
  4. White NJ . Assessment of the pharmacodynamic properties of antimalarial drugs in vivo . Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy . 41 . 7 . 1413–22 . July 1997 . 9210658 . 163932 . 10.1128/AAC.41.7.1413 .
  5. Web site: Overview of malaria treatment . World Health Organization . 30 May 2020.
  6. Web site: Tshiamala . Stanis Bujakera . Coronavirus: DRC doctor says clinical trials can begin using artemisia . The Africa Report . 20 May 2020 . Jeune Afrique Media Group . 5 June 2020.
  7. Web site: Madagascar launches 'COVID-Organics' as a remedy for the novel coronavirus. 23 April 2020. Ventures Africa. en-US. 12 May 2020.
  8. Web site: COVID-organics: Madagascar launches Africa's first cure for virus. 22 April 2020. Africanews. en. 12 May 2020.
  9. Web site: Madagascar launches herbal medicine against COVID-19. 23 April 2020. en-GB. 12 May 2020.
  10. Web site: Madagascar hands out 'miracle' virus cure as it lifts lockdown . guardian.ng. 23 April 2020 . 12 May 2020.
  11. Web site: Madagascar a quitté l'OMS ? Non, contrairement à ce qu'affirme cette rumeur . 12 May 2022 .
  12. News: Faivre Le Cadre . Anne-Sophie . L'OMS va aider Madagascar à tester la tisane Covid-Organics, mais ne l'a pas homologuée . 30 May 2020 . AFP Covid-19 verification hub . Agence France-Presse . Agence France-Presse . 28 May 2020.
  13. Web site: The use of non-pharmaceutical forms of Artemisia . World Health Organization . 5 June 2020.
  14. Web site: WHO supports scientifically-proven traditional medicine. World Health Organization . 19 July 2021.
  15. Web site: WHO statement on the clinical trial of CVO+ remedy. World Health Organization . 19 July 2021.
  16. News: 5 May 2020. Do not use untested Covid-19 remedies, WHO warns. en-GB. BBC News. 12 May 2020.
  17. News: WHO sceptical as coronavirus 'cure' distributed in Africa. Sally . Hayden . Sally Hayden . . en. 12 May 2020.
  18. Web site: Unproven herbal remedy against COVID-19 could fuel drug-resistant malaria, scientists warn. Nordling. Linda. 6 May 2020. Science AAAS. en. 12 May 2020.
  19. News: Ranaivoson . Garry Fabrice . Injection contre le conronavirus - Coup d'envoi des essai cliniques . 5 June 2020 . L'express de Madagascar . L'express de Madagascar . L'express de Madagascar . French.
  20. Web site: Africa CDC to obtain data on Madagascar's herbal COVID-19 'cure'. Ngatane. Nthakoana. ewn.co.za. en. 12 May 2020.
  21. Web site: African Union presses Madagascar on efficacy of Covid-Organics 'tonic'. 8 May 2020. South China Morning Post. en. 12 May 2020.
  22. Web site: African body discussing Madagascar's 'herbal Covid mix' . www.aa.com.tr. 12 May 2020.
  23. News: Fabricius . Peter . Africa's chief Covid-19 fighter encouraged by the flattening of the speed at which the virus is spreading . 5 June 2020 . Daily Maverick . Styli Charalambous.
  24. Web site: ECOWAS denies endorsing Madagascan Covid-Organics herbal remedy. 7 May 2020. en-GB. 12 May 2020.
  25. Web site: ECOWAS Denies Endorsing Any Herbal Product for COVID-19. MarketWatch. en-US. 12 May 2020. 14 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211114194618/https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/ecowas-denies-endorsing-any-herbal-product-for-covid-19-2020-05-08. dead.
  26. Web site: ECOWAS denies ordering COVID-19 organic medication - P.M. News. PMNewsNigeria.com. 12 May 2020.
  27. Web site: South Africa steps up to help Madagascar test herbal cure for Covid-19. 8 May 2020. RFI. en. 12 May 2020.
  28. Web site: Amid WHO warnings and with no proof, someAfrican nations turn to herbal tonic to try to treat Covid-19 . 15 May 2020 . 4 June 2020 . CNN.
  29. News: Brown . Will . Madagascar to test 'injectable' Covid cure . 5 June 2020 . The Telegraph . 27 May 2020.
  30. News: 10 May 2020. Madagascar coronavirus herbal mix draws demand from across Africa despite WHO misgivings . en. Reuters. 12 May 2020.
  31. News: Nunoo. Favour. 20 May 2020. Ghana request for Madagascar Covid-19 herbal cure for testing. BBC News Pidgin. 21 May 2020.
  32. Web site: Ghana coronavirus: 6,096 cases, govt eyes Madagascar 'remedy'. 20 May 2020. Africanews. en. 21 May 2020.
  33. News: Alfa Shaban . Abdur Rahman . COVID-Organics: Madagascar donates 'cure mixture' to Equatorial Guinea . 5 June 2020 . Africa News.
  34. News: Tih . Felix . 'WHO commends Madagascar's fight against COVID-19' . 5 June 2020 . Andalou Agency . 21 May 2020.
  35. Web site: Rasolo. Fano. 2021-01-04. Usine Pharmalagasy : lancement du gélule CVO Plus. 2021-01-04. Madagascar-Tribune.com. fr.
  36. Web site: Madagascar: les gélules CVO+, nouveau "remède" contre le Covid-19 ?. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008144957/https://afrique.tv5monde.com/information/madagascar-les-gelules-cvo-nouveau-remede-contre-le-covid-19 . 8 October 2020 . TV5 Monde Afrique.

External links

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