Covid-Organics

Covid-Organics (CVO) is an Artemisia-based Ayurvedic drink that Andry Rajoelina, president of Madagascar, claims can prevent and cure Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Ayurvedic drink is produced from a species under the Artemisia genus[1][2][3] from which artemisinin is extracted for malaria treatment.[4][5]

A bottle of Covid Organics

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] As of 7 July 2020, Madagascar has confirmed a total of 3472 cases of COVID-19, and 33 deaths.[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]

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.[14][15][16] 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.[17] 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. [18][19][20] 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. [21] 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.[22][23][24] As concerns about the safety of CVO grow, South Africa offered to help Madagascar conduct a clinical trial on the herbal tonic.[25]

There are concerns over widespread usage of Artemisia accelerating drug resistance toward ACTs for malaria treatment.[26]

Patronage

More than 20 African and Caribbean countries have taken delivery of CVO as of May 2020 to combat COVID-19.[27][28] 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.[29][30] 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. [31] Countries that have received CVO shipments include:[32]

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". [33][34]

References
  1. "Coronavirus: What is Madagascar's 'herbal remedy' Covid-Organics?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. "Artemisia: Madagascar's coronavirus cure or Covid-19 quackery?". RFI. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. "Madagascar's 'Covid-Organics' born from local traditional". The Africa Report.com. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  4. White NJ (July 1997). "Assessment of the pharmacodynamic properties of antimalarial drugs in vivo". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 41 (7): 1413–22. doi:10.1128/AAC.41.7.1413. PMC 163932. PMID 9210658.
  5. World Health Organization. "Overview of malaria treatment". World Health Organization. World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. Tshiamala, Stanis Bujakera. "Coronavirus: DRC doctor says clinical trials can begin using artemisia". The Africa Report. Jeune Afrique Media Group. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. "Madagascar launches 'COVID-Organics' as a remedy for the novel coronavirus". Ventures Africa. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  8. AfricaNews (22 April 2020). "COVID-organics: Madagascar launches Africa's first cure for virus". Africanews. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  9. "Madagascar launches herbal medicine against COVID-19". 23 April 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  10. "Madagascar hands out 'miracle' virus cure as it lifts lockdown". guardian.ng. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  11. "Worldmeters covid - 121". Worldmeters. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. Faivre Le Cadre, Anne-Sophie (28 May 2020). "L'OMS va aider Madagascar à tester la tisane Covid-Organics, mais ne l'a pas homologuée". AFP Covid-19 verification hub. Agence France-Presse. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  13. "The use of non-pharmaceutical forms of Artemisia". World Health Organization. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. "Do not use untested Covid-19 remedies, WHO warns". BBC News. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  15. Gulu, Sally Hayden in; Ug; a. "WHO sceptical as coronavirus 'cure' distributed in Africa". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  16. NordlingMay. 6, Linda; 2020; Pm, 4:00 (6 May 2020). "Unproven herbal remedy against COVID-19 could fuel drug-resistant malaria, scientists warn". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 12 May 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. Ranaivoson, Garry Fabrice. "Injection contre le conronavirus - Coup d'envoi des essai cliniques". L'express de Madagascar (in French). L'express de Madagascar. L'express de Madagascar. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  18. Ngatane, Nthakoana. "Africa CDC to obtain data on Madagascar's herbal COVID-19 'cure'". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  19. "African Union presses Madagascar on efficacy of Covid-Organics 'tonic'". South China Morning Post. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  20. "African body discussing Madagascar's 'herbal Covid mix'". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  21. Fabricius, Peter. "Africa's chief Covid-19 fighter encouraged by the flattening of the speed at which the virus is spreading". Daily Maverick. Styli Charalambous. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  22. "ECOWAS denies endorsing Madagascan Covid-Organics herbal remedy". 7 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  23. "ECOWAS Denies Endorsing Any Herbal Product for COVID-19". MarketWatch. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  24. "ECOWAS denies ordering COVID-19 organic medication - P.M. News". www.pmnewsnigeria.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  25. "South Africa steps up to help Madagascar test herbal cure for Covid-19". RFI. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  26. "Amid WHO warnings and with no proof, some African nations turn to herbal tonic to try to treat Covid-19". CNN. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  27. Brown, Will (27 May 2020). "Madagascar to test 'injectable' Covid cure". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  28. "Madagascar coronavirus herbal mix draws demand from across Africa despite WHO misgivings". Reuters. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  29. Nunoo, Favour (20 May 2020). "Ghana request for Madagascar Covid-19 herbal cure for testing". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  30. AfricaNews (20 May 2020). "Ghana coronavirus: 6,096 cases, govt eyes Madagascar 'remedy'". Africanews. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  31. Alfa Shaban, Abdur Rahman. "COVID-Organics: Madagascar donates 'cure mixture' to Equatorial Guinea". Africa News. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  32. Tih, Felix (21 May 2020). "'WHO commends Madagascar's fight against COVID-19'". Andalou Agency. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  33. Rasolo, Fano (4 January 2021). "Usine Pharmalagasy : lancement du gélule CVO Plus". Madagascar-Tribune.com (in French). Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  34. "Madagascar : les gélules CVO+, nouveau "remède" contre le Covid-19 ?". TV5 Monde Afrique.
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