The WHO Restarts Plaquenil Clinical Trial in 35 Countries

The leader of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced they will resume testing an experimental COVID-19 disease treatment, Plaquenil. 

So far, more than 3,500 patients have been recruited in 35 countries to participate in the Solidarity clinical trial.

This drug is FDA-approved to prevent or treat malaria caused by mosquito bites.

During the end of May 2020, the Executive Group of the Solidarity Trial decided to implement a temporary pause of the Plaquenil arm of the trial, because of concerns raised about the safety of the drug.

‘This decision was taken as a precaution while the safety data were reviewed,’ stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

‘The Data Safety and Monitoring Committee of the Solidarity Trial has been reviewing the data. On the basis of the available mortality data, the members of the committee recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol.’

‘The Executive Group received this recommendation and endorsed the continuation of all arms of the Solidarity Trial, including Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine).’

‘The Data Safety and Monitoring Committee will continue to closely monitor the safety of all therapeutics being tested in the Solidarity Trial.’

‘WHO is committed to accelerating the development of effective therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics as part of our commitment to serving the world with science, solutions, and solidarity,’ concluded Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

On March 18, 2020, the WHO announced that it is launching the SOLIDARITY study to investigate potential therapies to treat patients with COVID-19 disease.

There are various antiviral agents, immunotherapies, and vaccines currently being developed as potential therapies for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and the disease it causes, COVID-19.

As of June 3, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration had not approved any medication to treat the COVID-19 disease.

Precision Vaccinations publishes coronavirus treatment news.