LAUDED as a potential cure for COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented a "temporary pause" of the hydroxychloroquine arm of the multi-national Solidarity Trial, amid safety concerns.
The move to halt the use of the anti-malarial and autoimmune disease treatment for the novel virus came after The Lancet published research showing the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, when used alone or with a macrolide, was associated with "decreased in-hospital survival".
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the executive group of the Solidarity Trial, which has been researching potential treatments and vaccines, has agreed to review a comprehensive analysis and critical appraisal of all evidence available globally.
"The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity Trial, while the data is reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board," he said.
"The other arms of the trial are continuing.
"This concern relates to the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19.
"I wish to reiterate that these drugs are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria."
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President, Dr Chris Freeman, has repeatedly stressed the need for prescribers to rely on "the principles of evidence-based medicine" and not "faux claims" about would-be treatments.
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