The World Health Organization halted the hydroxychloroquine arm of its Covid-19 drug trials pending more data because of safety concerns.
The steering committee decided to suspend enrollment to that arm, WHO officials said Monday. That’s after the Lancet published a study that said the drug, touted by U.S.
President Donald Trump as a treatment, 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 hospitalization without increasing adverse events." The studies may resume if