In December 2019, the Municipal Health Committee of Wuhan, China, identified an outbreak of viral pneumonia of unknown cause. This new coronavirus was called SARS-CoV-2 and the disease caused by that virus, COVID-19. Recent numbers show that 222,643 infections have been diagnosed with 9115 deaths, worldwide. Currently, there are no approved therapeutic agents available for coronaviruses. In this scenario, the situation of a global public health emergency and evidence about the potential positive effect of chloroquine (CQ) in most coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1, and recent data on small trials on SARS-CoV-2, the investigators intend to investigate the efficacy and the safety of CQ diphosphate in the treatment of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in the scenario of SARS-CoV2. Preliminary in vitro studies and uncontrolled trials with low number of patients of CQ repositioning in the treatment of COVID-19 have been encouraging. The main hypothesis is that CQ diphosphate will reduce mortality in 50% in those with severe acute respiratory syndrome infected by the SARS-COV2. Therefore, the main objective is to assess whether the use of chloroquine diphosphate reduces mortality by 50% in the study population. The primary outcome is mortality in day 28 of follow-up. According to local contingency plan, developed by local government for COVID-19 in the State of Amazonas, the Hospital Pronto-Socorro Delphina Aziz, located in Manaus, is the reference unit for the admission of serious cases of the new virus. The unit currently has 50 ICU beds, with the possibility of expanding to 335 beds, if needed. The hospital also has trained multiprofessional human resources and adequate infrastructure. In total, 440 participants (220 per arm) will receive either high dose chloroquine 600 mg bid regime (4x150 mg tablets, every 12 hours, D1-D10) or low dose chloroquine 450mg bid regime (3x150mg tablets + 1 placebo tablet every 12 hours on D1, 3x150mg tablets + 1 placebo followed by 4 placebo tablets 12h later from D2 to D5, and 4 placebo tablets every 12 hours, D6-D10). Placebo tablets were used to standardize treatment duration and blind research team and patients. All drugs administered orally (or via nasogastric tube in case of orotracheal intubation). Both intervention and placebo drugs will be produced by Farmanguinhos. Clinical and laboratory data during hospitalization will be used to assess efficacy and safety outcomes.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Male and female participants aged over 18 years old

2. Hospitalized

3. presenting:

   • respiratory rate higher than 24 breathing incursions per minute AND/OR
   • heart rate higher than 125 beats per minute (in the absence of fever) AND/OR
   • peripheral oxygen saturation lower than 90% in ambient air AND/OR
   • shock (defined as mean arterial pressure less than 65 mmHg, requiring vasopressor or oliguria or lowering level of consciousness)

Exclusion Criteria:

• None.

all patient data will be shared after study publication

after study publication

upon request to researchers