The World Health Organisation (WHO) has temporarily suspended the trial of hydroxycholoroquine, a drug that was recommended against Coronavirus. The drug was suspended following safety concerns.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the media that the Executive Group has imposed a temporary pause of the trial of hydroxychloroquine within Solidarity Trial arm. However, he said that the safety data was being reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board.
The Who is reported to have come up with such a suspension after some studies found that the drug had increased risk of heart problems.
He noted that that hydroxychloroquine and chloraquine used for the treatment of Covid-19 are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria. Hydroxychloroquine is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Pointing out that numerous clinical trials are going on to see if the drug is effective in fighting coronavirus, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that it was not a proven treatment yet.
US president Donald Trump’s announcement last week that he is using Hydroxychloroquine has prompted many governments to buy the medicine in bulk.
It has to be noted that hydroxychloroquine and chloraquin, as per a Lancet paper, has found to have serious side effects, especially heart arrhythmia. It also said that the drug has not benefitted those who were in hospital.
