Last Updated: May 20, 2026

CLINICAL TRIALS PROFILE FOR PLAQUENIL


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All Clinical Trials for Plaquenil

Trial ID Title Status Sponsor Phase Start Date Summary
NCT00102557 ↗ Hydroxychloroquine vs. Clobetasol Rinse to Treat Oral Lichen Planus Completed National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Phase 2 2005-01-01 This study will compare two treatments for oral lichen planus - hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) tablets and clobetasol oral rinse. Oral lichen planus is a chronic disorder in which patients have painful mouth ulcers that interfere with meals and daily functioning. It is most commonly treated with topical or systemic corticosteroids, but these drugs have a number of side effects, most commonly yeast infection, and chronic systemic use of them can lead to diabetes, osteoporosis, weight gain, and other complications. Also, lichen planus generally returns when the corticosteroids are stopped. Clobetasol oral rinse is a topical steroid commonly used to treat oral lichen planus. Hydroxychloroquine, a drug that was originally used to treat malaria and is now also approved for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, has been tried for lichen planus in small-scale studies with some evidence of benefit. Patients 18 years of age and older with oral lichen planus may be eligible for this study. Pregnant women are excluded. Candidates are screened with a dermatology examination, routine blood tests, an eye examination, and a biopsy to rule out other conditions similar to lichen planus and to provide tissue for research purposes. For the biopsy, two small circles of tissue about 4 mm (less than 1/5") across are surgically removed from the area with lichen planus. Participants are randomly assigned to treatment with either hydroxychloroquine or clobetasol rinse. Patients assigned to hydroxychloroquine also take a placebo mouth rinse that looks and tastes like the clobetasol rinse, and those assigned to clobetasol also take a pill that looks and tastes like the hydroxychloroquine tablet. This is done so that neither the patients nor the study doctors know which patient is taking which active medication until the study is completed. Patients take the pills daily in the morning with food or a glass of milk for the 6-month study period and use the rinse twice a day for 4 months and then once a day for 2 months. They may not use any pain or anti-inflammatory medicines or topical creams, gels or rinses regularly, because these medications can obscure the effects of the study drugs and complicate interpretation of the results. They are given a topical numbing medicine as part of the study and can use Tylenol for pain during the study duration. In addition to treatment, participants visit the NIH Clinical Center once a month for the following tests and procedures: - Review of pain levels, as recorded in a pain diary - Review of drug side effects, if any - Collection of saliva and blood samples at 2, 4 and 6 months - Repeat oral biopsy at completion of the study at 6 months to evaluate treatment effects - Final examination at 8 months to determine if the disease returns or improves after the medication is stopped.
NCT00176982 ↗ Plaquenil for Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis Completed Hordinsky, Maria K., MD Phase 4 2002-04-01 Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition resulting in hair loss and complete baldness (alopecia totalis). Published evidence says that it is mediated by T-lymphocytes. Plaquenil is an anti-inflammatory drug approved by the FDA for malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. It has an effect on T-lymphocyte mediated inflammation, making it a logical choice for a treatment trail for alopecia areata.
NCT00405275 ↗ Rheumatoid Arthritis: Comparison of Active Therapies in Patients With Active Disease Despite Methotrexate Therapy Completed Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) N/A 2007-07-01 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints leading to joint destruction, with significant long-term morbidity and mortality. Early treatment of RA patients with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) significantly decreases these complications. Methotrexate (MTX) is an excellent, economical first-line DMARD used to treat a majority of RA patients. While most patients respond well to MTX, many continue to have active disease. Therefore, understanding how to best treat RA patients with active disease despite MTX therapy is critically important. Although a number of therapies with significantly different economic implications have been shown to be effective when added to MTX, no trial has directly compared active therapies. This study will compare therapeutic strategies using two regimens with proven efficacy when added to MTX therapy; a) hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine (cost ~ $1000 per year); b) the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, etanercept (cost ~ $12,000 per year). We propose a bi-national multi-center randomized, double-blind equivalency trial comparing (A) the strategy of initially adding hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine to MTX in patients with active disease despite MTX, with a switch at 24 weeks to etanercept in nonresponders to (B) a strategy of adding etanercept to MTX, with a switch to hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine in nonresponders at 24 weeks. If we find that the strategy of first adding hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine to MTX identifies a subset of responsive patients and that there is no harm to nonresponders because of early rescue with etanercept, then this less expensive option should become the standard treatment for MTX resistant patients. Four hundred and fifty RA patients with active disease despite treatment with MTX as indicated by a Disease Activity Score with 28 joints (DAS28) of >4.4 units will be randomized. A DAS improvement of 1.2 at 24 weeks will remain on their initial therapy. The primary endpoint is the change of DAS 28 scores from baseline to 48 weeks. The secondary endpoint is comparison of radiographic progression of disease at 48 weeks, as measured by the change in Sharp score. Economic and functional outcomes will be assessed and a serum and DNA bank will be established to evaluate potential biomarkers predictive of treatment response/toxicity and disease progression. This trial will recruit 450 subjects over 40 months. At the end of the 48 week blinded active therapy portion of the trial, the blind will be broken and data will be collected in an open fashion until all 450 patients have completed the 48 week portion of the trial.
>Trial ID >Title >Status >Phase >Start Date >Summary

Clinical Trial Conditions for Plaquenil

Condition Name

Condition Name for Plaquenil
Intervention Trials
COVID-19 21
Corona Virus Infection 10
Coronavirus Infection 5
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Condition MeSH

Condition MeSH for Plaquenil
Intervention Trials
COVID-19 34
Coronavirus Infections 16
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 13
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Clinical Trial Locations for Plaquenil

Trials by Country

Trials by Country for Plaquenil
Location Trials
United States 194
Canada 13
Australia 10
United Kingdom 6
France 4
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Trials by US State

Trials by US State for Plaquenil
Location Trials
Pennsylvania 21
Texas 14
New York 14
Massachusetts 12
California 11
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Clinical Trial Progress for Plaquenil

Clinical Trial Phase

Clinical Trial Phase for Plaquenil
Clinical Trial Phase Trials
Phase 4 12
Phase 3 21
Phase 2/Phase 3 5
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Clinical Trial Status

Clinical Trial Status for Plaquenil
Clinical Trial Phase Trials
Completed 37
Recruiting 24
Terminated 11
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Clinical Trial Sponsors for Plaquenil

Sponsor Name

Sponsor Name for Plaquenil
Sponsor Trials
University of Pittsburgh 5
National Cancer Institute (NCI) 4
ProgenaBiome 3
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Sponsor Type

Sponsor Type for Plaquenil
Sponsor Trials
Other 173
Industry 18
NIH 12
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Last updated: May 4, 2026

PLAQUENIL (Hydroxychloroquine): Clinical Trials Update, Market Analysis, and Revenue Projection

What is PLAQUENIL and how is it positioned commercially?

PLAQUENIL is the brand name of hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ), an immunomodulatory small molecule used for long-established indications such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus (SLE/CCLE). The product is also widely associated with infectious-disease use during the COVID-19 era, but that usage shifted substantially post-trials and guideline updates.

Key commercial reality: HCQ is a mature, off-patent therapy with broad generic availability. The commercial trajectory therefore tracks:

  • Indication mix (autoimmune rheumatology vs. infectious-disease off-label)
  • Generic penetration (pricing pressure and lost brand share)
  • Guideline-driven demand (notably after large randomized trials in respiratory viral disease)

What is the clinical-trials landscape for hydroxychloroquine today?

Which clinical trial results changed the evidence base most?

Large randomized studies across multiple geographies materially reduced clinical confidence in hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19:

  • RECOVERY (UK): No benefit for hospitalized COVID-19 patients; study stopped for lack of efficacy. Source: RECOVERY trial press communications and published results [1].
  • WHO SOLIDARITY: No reduction in mortality or progression among hospitalized patients; HCQ was discontinued in the trial program for lack of benefit. Source: WHO SOLIDARITY trial results [2].
  • Meta-analyses and pooled evidence post-early signals: Consistently showed no survival benefit in hospitalized settings, with safety signals depending on population and co-therapies (notably QT prolongation with certain agents). Source: WHO and subsequent evidence syntheses [2].

These studies did not eliminate clinical research for HCQ in other diseases, but they substantially reduced trial-sponsored infectious-disease momentum and payer/guideline support.

What is the most relevant current clinical-trials activity signal?

Post-COVID, hydroxychloroquine research activity has shifted primarily toward:

  • Autoimmune disease refinement (dosing, patient stratification, biomarkers)
  • Combination therapy in rheumatology
  • Rare autoimmune or inflammatory indications

A complete “all-trials” update requires a live registry pull. This response focuses on evidence that is durable and source-backed from major, published trial programs and guideline-level outcomes, which drive market demand more than near-term recruiting status.

Bottom line for clinical impact on PLAQUENIL demand: COVID-era trial outcomes drive durable demand contraction for infectious-disease off-label use, while autoimmune use stays supported by established practice.


Market Analysis: How does PLAQUENIL perform in a genericized market?

How does patent/generics structure affect the brand?

Hydroxychloroquine is widely available as generics, which compresses branded pricing power and limits meaningful long-term brand share growth. As a result, PLAQUENIL’s market is typically measured by:

  • Residual brand share in pharmacies and physician preference
  • Channel mix (wholesale and specialty vs. retail)
  • Formulation and supply stability
  • Regional reimbursement

Implication: Brand revenue is primarily a function of volume retention and price support vs. generics, not new-patient capture.

Where does demand still hold up?

PLAQUENIL demand is supported by ongoing autoimmune indications:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Discoid lupus
  • Other approved inflammatory conditions depending on jurisdiction

The strongest demand durability typically comes from:

  • Established chronic therapy adherence
  • Physician familiarity
  • Ongoing guideline inclusion in certain patient populations

Demand headwind: off-label infectious-disease demand that spiked during COVID has largely normalized downward after trial evidence.


Revenue Projection: What trajectory is most consistent with the evidence?

How to model PLAQUENIL revenue direction

Given HCQ’s maturity and generic competition, a practical projection framework is:

  • Base volume from chronic autoimmune users
  • Brand share vs. generics (slow drift down)
  • Price erosion (expected under generic competition)
  • Any offset from formulary preference or payer programs

Because this environment is driven by structure (genericization) rather than a single late-stage catalyst, projections should be expressed as trend ranges anchored to evidence on demand normalization after COVID.

Projection

Without a live sales dataset in the prompt, the only defensible projection is directional, consistent with:

  • Established evidence that removed strong demand for COVID indications [1,2]
  • Chronic autoimmune durability
  • Sustained generic price pressure

Directional projection (2024 to 2028):

  • 2024 to 2025: continued brand share drift to generics; modest revenue contraction
  • 2026 to 2028: revenue stabilizes at a lower base if brand retains dispensing share; otherwise continued gradual decline

Expected market behavior: low-to-mid single-digit annual decline is more consistent than a rebound absent a new registration catalyst.


What is the key clinical and safety consideration that still affects use?

Even where efficacy is not in dispute for autoimmune use, clinician behavior is shaped by safety monitoring and drug interaction risk:

  • Cardiac risk: QT prolongation risk is most relevant when HCQ is combined with other QT-prolonging agents.
  • Retinal toxicity: requires ophthalmologic monitoring for long-term therapy (practice standard in rheumatology).
  • Drug interactions and contraindications: influence patient selection and adherence.

These safety constraints influence physician prescribing and can limit uptake in borderline populations, even for approved indications.


What would be the most investable “watch items” going forward?

For a mature, off-patent molecule, value and revenue are tied to evidence of durable use rather than new efficacy breakthroughs:

  • Guideline reinforcement in rheumatology (autoimmune standard-of-care)
  • Formulary and reimbursement dynamics that preserve branded dispensing
  • Generic supply stability (surges in supply shortages can temporarily shift share to brand)
  • Any positive trial readouts in niche autoimmune settings that expand label indications (rare but possible)

Key Takeaways

  • PLAQUENIL demand for COVID-like infectious settings contracted after major randomized evidence showed no benefit (RECOVERY [1], WHO SOLIDARITY [2]).
  • Current clinical research emphasis is more likely in autoimmune and inflammatory refinements than in large global infectious-disease pivotal programs.
  • Commercial outlook is constrained by broad generic availability, driving a structural downtrend in branded share and pricing power.
  • The most consistent revenue path for 2024 to 2028 is gradual decline or stabilization at a reduced base, absent new label-changing evidence or market shocks.

FAQs

1) Did RECOVERY and SOLIDARITY show hydroxychloroquine worked for hospitalized COVID-19 patients?

No. Both major programs found no clinical benefit in hospitalized COVID-19 populations, leading to discontinuation of HCQ arms for lack of efficacy [1,2].

2) Is PLAQUENIL still prescribed today?

Yes. It remains used for long-standing autoimmune indications such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, where the evidence base supports chronic use patterns.

3) What is the main commercial risk for PLAQUENIL?

Generic competition, which compresses branded pricing and share over time, alongside reduced demand from the post-COVID normalization of off-label use.

4) What safety issues most affect prescribing behavior?

Cardiac QT risk in susceptible patients and with interacting drugs, and retinal toxicity with long-term therapy that drives monitoring requirements.

5) What is the most realistic catalyst that could change the PLAQUENIL outlook?

A label-expanding, durable efficacy and safety result in a specific autoimmune or inflammatory indication, paired with guideline adoption and payer acceptance.


References

[1] RECOVERY Collaborative Group. (2020). Hydroxychloroquine in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY). (Press release and trial communications; core findings widely published).
[2] World Health Organization. (2020). A randomized trial of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 (SOLIDARITY). WHO SOLIDARITY trial results.

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