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.

‘Fraudulent, Biased And Misleading’: Trump Rails Against NGO After It Put Out Bezos-Backed Climate Report

From locker rooms to Congress: Jay Feely latest athlete seeking to take lessons in leadership to Capitol Hill

Here’s what you missed from Trump’s first WHCA Dinner as president: 5 takeaways from his night with the press

Christian in Pakistan Killed by Muslim After Being Denied Drink of Water

2028, term limits, media tension: Everything Trump covered in wild marathon speech at the White House Press Correspondents’ Association dinner

Trump spares no one at WHCA dinner, taking aim at Dems, press and his own Cabinet

Gretchen Whitmer endorses moderate Haley Stevens in tight upcoming Senate primary

Trump orders signs outside Smithsonian museum amid row over its depiction of American history

California trans suspect arrested in mother’s killing after neighbor recalls heated argument

House Republicans confront NJ governor over 6,600 noncitizens registered to vote in alleged software failure

Illegal immigrant who killed Nashville restaurant owner to face ICE deportation after prison

Jon Bon Jovi Abruptly Ends Madison Square Garden Show: ‘I’m Gonna Have to Cool It’

White House Moves to ‘Restore Trust’ in Smithsonian Institution

Sophie Cunningham’s New Shoes Sell Out in Hours After Her Stand Against Wokeness

White House Correspondents’ Association dinner do-over features enhanced security measures, smaller crowd

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.”