The
World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended the clinical trial of
hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on COVID-19 patients. The safety data of the
anti-malarial drug is however, being reviewed by the WHO authorities. The WHO
Director-General, Tedros Adnom Ghebius, said it is a temporarily suspension.
The Lancet Medical Journal had on May 22,
published an observational study on HCQ and chloroquine and its effect on
COVID-19 patients.
As per the research scholars, the
patients receiving the drug, when used alone or with a macrolide, they
estimated a higher mortality rate.
“The Working Group of Solidarity Trial,
representing 10 of the participating countries, met on May 23, 2020”, Tedros
said during a virtual press conference on Monday. He also discussed a
comprehensive analysis of all the evidence available globally and Agreed to
review critical evaluation. The review will consider data collected so far in
the Solidarity Trial and in particular robust randomized available data, to
adequately evaluate the potential benefits and harms from this drug, he said.
Tendros added, “The Executive Group has
implemented a temporary pause of the HCQ arm within the Solidarity Trial while
the safety data is reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board. The other arms
of the trial are continuing”.
The WHO initiated the Solidarity Trial, a
plan to evaluate the safety and efficacy of four drugs and drug combinations
against COVID-19 more than two months ago, which include HCQ. According to the
WHO, over 400 hospitals in 35 countries are actively recruiting patients and
nearly 3,500 patients have been enrolled from 17 countries under the Solidarity
Trial.