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.

Four noncitizens charged with illegally voting in 2020, 2022 and 2024 federal elections in New Jersey

Trump teases US will be ‘taking over’ Cuba ‘almost immediately’ in Florida speech

Pentagon orders withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany as Trump escalates feud with Merz

Op-Ed: Now Is the Time for Republican Courage on Abortion

Federal appeals court blocks mailing of abortion pills in ruling with nationwide effect

Domino’s driver runs down customer over tip dispute, caught on camera: police

Christian School That Was Punished for Stand Against Trans Athletes in Girls’ Sports Gets the Last Laugh

57 pounds of marijuana worth $220,000 found in Maryland man and woman’s suitcase at Dulles Airport

Republican Oklahoma Senate Candidate Found Dead in His Truck

Oregon Man Faces Lengthy Prison Sentence After Targeting Customs and Border Protection Helicopter

Trump aims to reset war powers clock with controversial bid to bypass Congress

Trump jokes about security concerns, mic problems and Dr Oz during freewheeling Florida speech

DOJ Targets Blue State for Giving Illegals Financial Assistance While Neglecting U.S. Citizens

Federal Judge Forces ICE to Release Illegal Alien Murder Suspect

Black conservative unleashes on Obama for ‘constantly whining’ after SCOTUS voting rights decision

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.”