Hydroxychloroquine: 'plausible cure to COVID-19' and the Indian connection

While Hydroxychloroquine is being advocated by certain leaders including US President Donald Trump as a possible cure to the coronavirus disease, without any scientific study to back the claim, this editorial highlights the role of Acharya Prafulla Ray, also known as Father of Indian Chemistry, towards the development of this crucial anti-malarial drug.

Hyderabad:Hydroxychloroquine, recognised as the best anti-malarial drugs, is now being touted as the new cure for COVID-19.

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, a vocal advocate of this medicine as the answer to the infection, himself has asked the Government of India to ship these tablets to the US.

But, did you know that Acharya Prafulla Ray, also known as Father of Indian Chemistry, had dedicated a significant amount of time in developing this crucial medicine?

Sir Ray was born on August 2, 1861, in Raruli-Katipara of the erstwhile Bengal Presidency. In 1887, he was awarded the Doctor of Science degree from the University of Edinburgh. He then taught chemistry at Presidency College until 1892.

With a capital of INR 700, he started a company called Bengal Chemical Works, which manufactured several drugs for public usage. He established the Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Works Pvt Ltd., in 1901 with an INR 2,00,000 investment.

The company produced large quantities of antimalarial drugs mainly HCQ.

The production was stalled a few years ago. Without expecting a single rupee of profit, Sir Ray has developed several medicines using his immense knowledge in chemistry. In 1902, he published two volumes of 'A History of Hindu Chemistry'.

His articles and essays got published in several scientific journals. He died on June 16, 1944.