WHO temporarily halted tests on hydroxychloroquine in its Covid-19 drug trials.
WHO Chief Scientist Soumya says it’s important to continue to gather evidence on the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine.
The safety monitoring board will meet again and the decision reviewed within the next week or two.
The World Health Organization (WHO) temporarily halted tests on hydroxychloroquine in its Covid-19 drug trials pending more data due to safety considerations.
The steering committee decided to suspend enrollment to that arm of the so-called Solidarity trials, WHO officials stated Monday.
That’s after the Lancet revealed a study stated the drug, touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as a treatment, linked to an increased risk of death and heart ailments.
“It’s important to continue to gather evidence on the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine,” WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan stated at a press briefing in Geneva.
“We want to use it if it’s safe and efficacious, reduces mortality, reduces the length of hospitalization without increasing adverse events.”
The research might resume if data warrants, Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s health emergencies program, stated at a briefing. There’s no signals from the Solidarity trials that point out any problem and the decision made out of an “abundance of caution,” Ryan stated.
The safety monitoring board will meet again and the decision reviewed within the next week or two, Swaminathan additionally stated.
WHO warns nations around the globe have to be ready for “second or third wave” of the coronavirus till a vaccine is available.
