Hydroxychloroquine: COVID-19 Experimental Drug Trials Halted by WHO

Due to safety concerns, the World Health Organization has halted the testing of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as an experimental treatment in fighting the coronavirus.

According to BBC, this decision comes after a paper published by the Lancet showed that the drug was linked to a higher risk of heart problems and even death. The study found out that of 96,000 patients with coronavirus with almost 15,000 treated with the drug, there was an 18 percent death rate compared with only nine percent for the control group. 

In an interview via The Guardian WHO Chief Ted Adhanon Ghebreyesus was quoted saying that:

"The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine 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."

This stoppage for the use of the drug is only limited for COVID-19 and that the drug was still an acceptable form of treatment for people with malaria and auto-immune diseases.

Other drugs mentioned in the health organizations' list that are still being pursued are remdesivir and an HIV combination therapy. Hydroxychloroquine has been licensed for use in the U.S. since the mid-1950s and is listed by the WHO as an essential medicine.

This decision is the latest setback for anyone who campaigns for hydroxychloroquine as a treatment. The drug has continued to produce a series of disappointing results in scientific studies. In April, the Food and Drug Administration on their website published the safeness of using the drug outside of hospitals and clinical trials due to the fact that numerous reports were linking the drug to  "serious heart rhythm problems."

READ MORE: Potential COVID-19 Drug Shows Promise, But Government Says It Needs More Research

One of the biggest proponents was U.S. President Donald Trump, who championed the drug by announcing that he was taking the "game-changer " drug as reported by Washington Post via The Philadelphia Inquirer. However, the president also made it clear that he has stopped taking hydroxychloroquine but still maintained his stand as a possible treatment for the coronavirus.

"I believe in it enough that I took a program because I had two people in the White House that tested positive. And by the way, I'm still here. To the best of my knowledge, here I am," Trump assured Sharyl Attkisson during an interview with Full Measure. 

ALSO READ: Recent Study Alarms Experts Regarding Pregnant Coronavirus Positive Women

Meanwhile, the drug used to treat the Ebola virus has been made available to selected patients in the United Kingdom, according to a report from the BBC. Remdesivir under Gilead Sciences will be eligible for patients this week and will offer hope for everyone who is severely affected by the illness. Despite medical approval, the drug is still on a limited and provisional form.

"This shows fantastic progress. As we navigate this unprecedented period, we must be on the front foot of the latest medical advancements, while always ensuring patient safety remains a top priority," Minister for Innovation Lord Bethell was quoted in the article.

DON'T MISS THIS: A.I. Speeds Up Detection of Pneumonia That Is Closely Associated With COVID-19