The World Health Organization says it is finalizing a trial to determine if the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine helps hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
The WHO said on Saturday that it “accepted the recommendation” of the committee overseeing the trial to suspend testing for hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir / ritonavir, a combination drug used to treat HIV / AIDS. The drugs were compared with standard inpatient care.
The United Nations agency says a review of the interim results showed that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir / ritonavir “produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 compared to standard care.”
The WHO adds that while there was no “solid evidence” of increased mortality for hospitalized patients receiving the drugs, there were “some associated safety signs in clinical laboratory findings” from an associated trial.
The agency says the decision will not affect possible trials in patients who are not hospitalized, or in those who receive the drugs before or soon after possible exposure to the coronavirus.
