In extreme cases: FDA approves anti-malarial medication for COVID-19

Scientists warn against excessive hype around medicines that have not yet been tested, writes "Voice of America".

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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the limited emergency use of two antimalarial drugs to treat patients with coronavirus. Earlier, President Donald Trump said that these medicines will help turn the tide with the epidemic.

A ministry of health and social services statement on Sunday said recent donations to the state reserve of medicines, including drugs such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, are being tested as possible drugs for treating COVID-19.

“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on March 29 accepted 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate donated to Sandoz by Novartis' Generics and Biosimilars Division and 1 million doses of chloroquine phosphate donated by Bayer Pharmaceuticals for possible use in treating patients hospitalized with COVID-19 or use in clinical trials. These and other companies may be able to donate additional doses, and the companies have increased production to ensure additional supply of the drug to the commercial market,” the statement noted. official statement.

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The statement said the department allowed "doctors to prescribe them to hospitalized teens and adults with COVID-19, depending on the circumstances when the clinical trial is unavailable or unacceptable."

March 23, Trump saidthat these two medicines may turn out to be a “gift of God,” although scientists warn of the dangers of excessive hype around unverified drugs.

Many researchers, including U.S. leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, have called on the public to remain cautious until larger trials confirm small studies.

Two US medical organizations, the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Advanced Biomedical Research and Development, are currently planning such trials.

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Some members of the scientific community fear that Trump's positive assessment of these drugs may lead to a deficiency for patients who need them to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, the diseases for which they are approved.

According to Johns Hopkins University, in the United States recorded more than 140 thousand cases of coronavirus and 2489 deaths.

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