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.
Byron Donalds took large donations from CCP-linked firm despite criticism of China
Trump cancels talks with Iran delegation as death toll from protests hits 2,000
BREAKING: Trump Steps Into Iran Crisis With Direct Message to Protesters: ‘Help is on the Way’
Breaking: Positive Inflation Report Delivers Economic Win for Trump
Federal agents deploy tear gas, rubber bullets on protesters outside Minneapolis federal building
House GOP leader blasts trans athletes in girls’ sports as ‘biggest form of bullying’
Florida sheriff Grady Judd fires off warning to gangsters after ‘Sex, Money, Murder’ kingpin taken down
Ex-state education official launches bid for Wyoming’s lone US House seat
Musk to Seek Full Custody After His Child’s Mother, a Former Conservative Influencer, Backs Gender Transition
Trump Announces His First Move After ‘Locked and Loaded’ Warning Against Iran
Elizabeth Warren says Trump called her after speech criticizing his record on costs
Riley Gaines to interview alleged victim in West Virginia v. B.P.J.
Trump dealt GOP blows over Powell inquiry amid rising tensions with Congress
Bill Clinton scheduled to appear before Oversight Committee as contempt of Congress threat looms
New York City unions have history of supporting Maduro regime
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.”
Byron Donalds took large donations from CCP-linked firm despite criticism of China
Trump cancels talks with Iran delegation as death toll from protests hits 2,000
BREAKING: Trump Steps Into Iran Crisis With Direct Message to Protesters: ‘Help is on the Way’
Breaking: Positive Inflation Report Delivers Economic Win for Trump
Federal agents deploy tear gas, rubber bullets on protesters outside Minneapolis federal building
House GOP leader blasts trans athletes in girls’ sports as ‘biggest form of bullying’
Florida sheriff Grady Judd fires off warning to gangsters after ‘Sex, Money, Murder’ kingpin taken down
Ex-state education official launches bid for Wyoming’s lone US House seat
Musk to Seek Full Custody After His Child’s Mother, a Former Conservative Influencer, Backs Gender Transition
Trump Announces His First Move After ‘Locked and Loaded’ Warning Against Iran
Elizabeth Warren says Trump called her after speech criticizing his record on costs
Riley Gaines to interview alleged victim in West Virginia v. B.P.J.
Trump dealt GOP blows over Powell inquiry amid rising tensions with Congress
Bill Clinton scheduled to appear before Oversight Committee as contempt of Congress threat looms
New York City unions have history of supporting Maduro regime
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.
