WHO SUSPENDS TRIAL OF HCQ PENDING DATA ON SAFETY

GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) halted the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) arm of its Covid-19 drug trials pending more data because of safety concerns.

The steering committee of the global body decided to suspend enrollment to that arm, the WHO’s officials announced on Monday. That came after The Lancet published a study that said the antimalarial drug, which has been touted by American President Donald Trump as a possible treatment for the coronavirus disease, was 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 said at a press briefing in Geneva. “We want to use it if it’s safe and efficacious, reduces mortality, reduces the length of hospitalisation without increasing adverse events.”

The studies may resume if data warrants, Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s health emergencies program, said at a briefing.