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.
Cultural groups ask federal judge to halt Trump’s renovations of Kennedy Center
Georgia man says he suffered severe medical neglect leading to amputations at scrutinized Atlanta jail
LAPD chief warns Los Angeles not prepared to secure 2028 Olympics due to staffing shortages
House Republicans unlock reconciliation process to fund ICE and Border Patrol without Democrats
Small-town Virginia mayor reportedly arrested for allegedly showing up drunk to train derailment
Romanian national learns fate for swatting US officials, including members of Congress, judges
Melania Trump embraces AI education initiative in White House tech push: ‘She’s been a champion’
‘The View’ Floats Dangerous Conspiracy Theory About Trump Days After Assassination Attempt, Draws Response from White House
Why The Supreme Court’s Landmark Elections Decision Is a ‘Game Changer’ for the Midterms and Beyond
Trump’s USA ‘Rededication to God’ Event in DC Will Occur Same Date as Continental Congress Took Similar Action in 1776
Trump weighs pulling US troops from Germany amid clash with chancellor over Iran war
GOP gubernatorial hopeful blasted by critics for ‘lying’ on stage about illegal immigrant hires
‘Sanctuary Politicians’ Release Illegal Alien Suspected of Killing Newlywed Couple – Then ICE Steps In
Trump EPA chief vows he won’t take ‘morality lessons’ from Dem senator after heated clash
Trump Isn’t the Problem: Dems Called John McCain and Mitt Romney Racists and Nazis, Too
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.”
Cultural groups ask federal judge to halt Trump’s renovations of Kennedy Center
Georgia man says he suffered severe medical neglect leading to amputations at scrutinized Atlanta jail
LAPD chief warns Los Angeles not prepared to secure 2028 Olympics due to staffing shortages
House Republicans unlock reconciliation process to fund ICE and Border Patrol without Democrats
Small-town Virginia mayor reportedly arrested for allegedly showing up drunk to train derailment
Romanian national learns fate for swatting US officials, including members of Congress, judges
Melania Trump embraces AI education initiative in White House tech push: ‘She’s been a champion’
‘The View’ Floats Dangerous Conspiracy Theory About Trump Days After Assassination Attempt, Draws Response from White House
Why The Supreme Court’s Landmark Elections Decision Is a ‘Game Changer’ for the Midterms and Beyond
Trump’s USA ‘Rededication to God’ Event in DC Will Occur Same Date as Continental Congress Took Similar Action in 1776
Trump weighs pulling US troops from Germany amid clash with chancellor over Iran war
GOP gubernatorial hopeful blasted by critics for ‘lying’ on stage about illegal immigrant hires
‘Sanctuary Politicians’ Release Illegal Alien Suspected of Killing Newlywed Couple – Then ICE Steps In
Trump EPA chief vows he won’t take ‘morality lessons’ from Dem senator after heated clash
Trump Isn’t the Problem: Dems Called John McCain and Mitt Romney Racists and Nazis, Too
President Donald Trump has suggested that hydroxychloroquine could be effective, and has encouraged further study. His interest in the drug has prompted pushback from the media.
NBC News’ Peter Alexander accused the president last week of giving Americans “false hope,” and Politico’s Dan Diamond reported Sunday that the FDA decision came despite “scant evidence,” adding that “[c]areer scientists have been skeptical of the effort.”
Story cited here.
