United States President Donald Trump on Monday stood by his support of hydroxychloroquine, saying that other countries provided “great rep...
United States President Donald Trump on Monday stood by his support of hydroxychloroquine, saying that other countries provided “great reports” on the effectiveness of the anti-malarial drug for treating coronavirus, and only American agencies have failed to grasp its benefit, Reuters reported.
This came hours after the United States Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency use authorisation for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. Trump has frequently touted the drugs for its effectiveness to stave off Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and has even claimed to use it himself.
“All I know is that we’ve had some tremendous reports,” Trump said at a White House roundtable, according to The New York Times. “It certainly didn’t hurt me. I feel good.”
The authorisations were withdrawn after a request from Gary Disbrow, acting director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. FDA Chief Scientist Denise Hinton said in a letter announcing the decision that the agency, after reviewing results from large clinical trials, believes the drugs are unlikely to produce any anti-viral effect.
The drugs do not meet “the statutory criteria” for emergency use authorisation as they are unlikely to be effective in treating Covid-19, the Food and Drug Administration noted on its website. “Additionally, in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other serious side effects,...
