Two medicines, side by side

Hydroxychloroquine vs remdesivir

Hydroxychloroquine is labeled for rheumatoid arthritis; remdesivir for covid-19. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of hydroxychloroquine since 1955 and of remdesivir since 2020. In FDA's classes, hydroxychloroquine is an antirheumatic agent and remdesivir a sars-cov-2 nucleotide analog rna polymerase inhibitor.

Check it at the source: the hydroxychloroquine FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 8, 2024); the remdesivir FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 29, 2026).

Highlights of the hydroxychloroquine record

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) · label of October 8, 2024

Used for

From the label: indications
SOVUNA is an antimalarial and antirheumatic indicated for the: Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium vivax in adult and pediatric patients. (1.1) Prophylaxis of malaria in geographic areas where chloroquine resistance is not reported in adult and pediatric patients. (1.1) Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. […]

On the market

Earliest approval on file: April 18, 1955
Generic labelers: 28 labelers
Pharmacy cost: $0.149 per tablet

Supply and safety

Shortage: A presentation being discontinued
Recalls: 2

Highlights of the remdesivir record

Remdesivir (Veklury) · label of July 29, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications
VEKLURY is indicated for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (birth to less than 18 years of age weighing at least 1.5 kg) who are [see Clinical Studies (14) ]: Hospitalized, or Not hospitalized and have mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. […]

On the market

Earliest approval on file: October 22, 2020
Generic labelers: none listed
Pharmacy cost: Not in the survey

Supply and safety

Shortage: No current entry
Recalls: 2

Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Hydroxychloroquine label of October 8, 2024, Remdesivir label of July 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)

How do hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir differ on the record?

In FDA's classes, hydroxychloroquine is an antirheumatic agent and remdesivir a sars-cov-2 nucleotide analog rna polymerase inhibitor.

How each works, in its label's words: Hydroxychloroquine, “Malaria Hydroxychloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial [see Microbiology (12.4)] and antirheumatic agent.”; Remdesivir, “Remdesivir is an antiviral drug with activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”

Generics: hydroxychloroquine since 1994; remdesivir none approved (Drugs@FDA).

	Hydroxychloroquine	Remdesivir
Labeled for	Rheumatoid arthritis	COVID-19
Pharmacologic class	Antimalarial, Antirheumatic Agent	SARS-CoV-2 Nucleotide Analog RNA Polymerase Inhibitor
How it works (label)	Malaria Hydroxychloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial [see Microbiology (12.4)] and antirheumatic agent.	Remdesivir is an antiviral drug with activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [see Microbiology (12.4) ].
Half-life (label)	Results following a single oral dose of a 200 mg tablet demonstrated a half-life of hydroxychloroquine about 40 days in whole blood.	n/a
Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA)	April 18, 1955	October 22, 2020
First generic approved	September 30, 1994	none
Generic labelers (NDC)	28 labelers	none listed
Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ)	$0.149 per tablet (Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg tablet)	n/a
12-month price change	-8%	n/a
Boxed warning	No	No
Shortage now	A presentation being discontinued	No current entry
Recalls recorded	2	2
FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used)	151,392	13,249
DEA schedule	none	none

Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)

Do their labels mention each other?

Remdesivir label, drug interactions
DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on VEKLURY Due to potential antagonism based on data from cell culture experiments, concomitant use of VEKLURY with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Microbiology (12.4) ].

Remdesivir label, warnings and precautions
Discontinue VEKLURY if ALT elevation is accompanied by signs or symptoms of liver inflammation. ( 5.2 ) Risk of reduced antiviral activity when coadministered with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate:

What both labels say about taking them together

Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA

What next?

Hydroxychloroquine: the full record
Remdesivir: the full record
Alternatives to hydroxychloroquine: every medicine labeled for the same conditions