Hydroxychloroquine: The First “Hope”

At the very beginning of the pandemic, several laboratory studies identified that hydroxychloroquine inhibited SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures, as well as at least one observational study proved a "rapid clearance of viral load."

• Yao et al. (2020). In Vitro Antiviral Activity and Projection of Optimized Dosing Design of Hydroxychloroquine for the Treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 71(15), 732–739.
  https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa237

• Hong et al. (2020). Early Hydroxychloroquine Administration for Rapid Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Eradication. Infection & chemotherapy, 52(3), 396–402.
  https://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2020.52.3.396 
  
  

This was quickly followed by a small but influential clinical study from France (the famous Raoult group), which claimed that HCQ — especially when combined with azithromycin — led to faster viral clearance in COVID-19 patients.

• Gautret et al. (2020). RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a treatment of COVID-19: results of an open-label non-randomized clinical trial. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 56(1), 105949.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32205204/
  
  

Although the study was later criticized and even retracted, its initial results swept through international news, social media, talk shows, and political press briefings, creating the perception that a breakthrough had been found.

Ivermectin: The Second Wave

Just weeks later, Australian researchers published a paper showing that ivermectin caused a 5,000-fold reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in vitro. Later, an observational study reinforced the claim.

• Caly et al. (2020). The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Antiviral Research, 178, 104787.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104787

• Rajter, J. C., Sherman, M. S., Fatteh, N., Vogel, F., Sacks, J., & Rajter, J.-J. (2021). Use of ivermectin is associated with lower mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019: The ICON study. CHEST, 159(1), 85–92.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.10.009  
  
  

This finding was amplified online as potential evidence of a major therapeutic discovery — after all, ivermectin was widely accessible and safely used for decades.

Supporters framed it as: “Why aren’t we trying this NOW?”
Meanwhile critics argued concentrations used in the lab were too high to replicate in humans — and the battle lines began to form.

In March 2020, the U.S. FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization for hydroxychloroquine in hospitalized COVID patients.
Suddenly, HCQ wasn’t just a drug — it was a political lightning rod.

• TV segments labeled it “unproven” or “dangerous.”
  
  

• Commentators accused each other of promoting pseudoscience.
  
  

• Supporters claimed the government was dragging its feet.
  
  

• Critics worried about heart arrhythmias and misuse.
  
  

Ivermectin became even more polarized a year later, after high-profile personalities — including Joe Rogan — publicly said they used it during COVID infection.

Mainstream outlets repeatedly referred to ivermectin as a “horse dewormer,” even though millions of people worldwide take the human version safely every year. This framing enraged proponents, who insisted the media intentionally blurred the distinction.

The issue morphed from a medical debate into a cultural war zone.