FDA Gives Emergency Authorization of Hydroxychloroquine Use

The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency authorization Sunday for hydroxychloroquine, a drug already used to treat malaria and other ailments, which has shown anecdotal efficacy against coronavirus.

The use of the drug — often paired with azithromycin — has not yet been proven in clinical trials to be effective against the disease. However, given reported success in a growing number of small, non-randomized studies; as well as testimonials from doctors and patients about the use of the “off-label” drug regimen, doctors are said to be prescribing the treatment to patients who are severely ill. Anecdotally, many doctors are taking it prophylactically.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a statement on Sunday:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to BARDA to allow hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to be distributed and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized teen and adult patients with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.

Video: Trump Greets Fallen Heroes at Dignified Transfer for Troops Killed in Iran Conflict

GOP rallies around Thune after White House says Trump’s patience is ‘running out’

Six-figure private security bill for top Dem Senate hopeful fuels GOP hypocrisy claims

Former Biden Admin Official Roasts Kamala’s 2028 Chances on Fox News: ‘She Follows’

Defense industry leaders align with Trump admin plans in closed-door strategy session on Iran war funding

Justice Department withdraws subpoenas to New York Times reporters

Nancy Guthrie mystery: ‘Today’ show intruder sparks security shakeup at NBC studio

WATCH: ‘Shocking’ Ben Franklin smear leaves Smithsonian chief with ‘no regrets’

Former CIA Director James Woolsey, Who Served Under Clinton and Later Advised Trump, Dies at 84

Vance Boelter sentenced for shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and spouses

Montana Teen Says God Coached Him As He Used a Lasso Rope to Save Man from Drowning

Dem Rhode Island lawmaker threatens ICE: ‘Your day of reckoning will come m—– f——‘

Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Why Fetterman called Mamdani a ‘clown’

Joe Rogan says ex-con guest allegedly killed man, hid dismembered remains month after podcast

Illegal Alien Released Into US by Obama Administration Charged with Killing 3 in Hit-and-Run

HHS also noted that it had “accepted 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate donated by Sandoz, the Novartis generics and biosimilars division, and one million doses of chloroquine phosphate donated by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, for possible use in treating patients hospitalized with COVID-19 or for use in clinical trials.”

Earlier, the French government had approved similar drugs to treat the virus.

Amid concerns that the sudden interest in hydroxychloroquine could cause shortages, HHS noted: “Use of the donated medications is expected to help ease supply pressures for the drug, and the FDA is also working with manufacturers of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to increase production to ensure these drugs also remain available for patients dependent on them for treatment of malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.”