FDA Approves Malaria Drugs for COVID-19 Treatment – Update 2
It is a start, maybe. Remdesivir is being touted as a potentially more effective drug.
The Chinese had reported there were several pharmaceuticals which appeared to work also and in particular drugs for malaria, Chloroquine and HydoxyChloroquine. I had mentioned this earlier in the week (or even earlier) in a post and then again in two separate comments.
One small clinical test (preliminary trial with 24 -36 patients) in France had positive results recently as reported March 17, 2020. HydoxyChloroquine Would Be Effective According to Professor Roault of the IHU in Marseille,” after the first limited Test as reported by EN24 on March 17, 2020. With the use of the antibiotic Azithromycin to treat pneumonia a bacterial infection resulting from the virus infection, the test results were ~75% positive.
Remdesivir appears to have worked in a limited number of cases also. An issue which we are missing is bacterial infection following viral infection. The Chinese followed up their treatment using Chloroquine and HydroxyChloroquine (decades old drug) with antibiotics for Strep. The French study instead uses Azithromycin for treatment of the resulting pneumonia, etc. Although the French clinical test had a success rate of 75%, they are calling for a larger load testing. For Italy, it may present an opportunity sooner than Remdesivir.
And today, Trump is back on the air: Malaria Drug for Coronavirus Has Been Approved by FDA (?)
President Donald Trump announced Thursday the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved hydroxychloroquine—a drug used to treat malaria, rheumatic diseases and other conditions—for COVID-19.
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the world, scientists are scrambling to identify treatments that may be effective against the disease. Hydroxychloroquine—a common derivative of chloroquine—is among those touted as most promising by some experts.
“HydoxyChloroquine Would Be Effective According to Professor Roault of the IHU in Marseille after the first limited Test,” EN24, March 17, 2020
Donald Trump Says Malaria Drug for Coronavirus Has Been Approved by FDA, Newsweek, Aristos Georgiou, March 19, 2020
Update 3/19: As Trump claimed HydoxyChloroquine was approved, FDA Head Steven Hahn countered Trump’s claim, stating the president had “directed the FDA to take a closer took” at whether the drug could help people with coronavirus. Indicating the FDA had not approved HydoxyChloroquine for use on a Coronaviral disease/disorder yet, Mr. Hahn called for large clinical trials to ascertain HydoxyChloroquine’s effectiveness in treatment.
“FDA contradicts Trump on status of potential coronavirus drug,” Financial Times, Demetri Sevastopulo (Washington) and Hannah Kuchler (New York), March 19, 2020
Update 3/20: Robert Waldman – “MDs can prescribe chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for Covid 19 right now. The FDA doesn’t and can’t regulate off label prescriptions. Large trials (with young subjects) might be OK, but that does NOT mean Drs should wait for the results before prescribing hydroxychloroquine. It has known side effects which are mild except if it is taken continuously for years (anti malaria profilassi). I think the current evidence is enough that it should be given to everyone who is not in the trials’ control group. I am quite confident of this and know of no arguably valid argument against doing so.”
Robert’s Comment is true and something I did not think of while writing.
HydoxyChloroquine is the generic name for Plaquenil and in conjunction with Zythromax (used for infectious bacteria Azithromycin is another name) is today being used in my son’s hospital today.
Let’s slow down. To claim any potential treatment is effective and has been approved by the FDA is dangerously wrong. Both treatments are still going through clinical trials. Wander over to Econospeak as we are trying to set the record straight on this issue.
pgl:
I was already at Econospeak. What do you think I said and I updated it as I learned more. It is correct and cites three sources including the original one for the Malaria drugs.
You can’t believe anything that comes out of China
Not true.
MDs can prescribe chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for Covid 19 right now. The FDA doesn’t and can’t regulate off label prescriptions. Large trials (with young subjects) might be OK, but that does NOT mean Drs should wait for the results before prescribing hydroxychloroquine. It has known side effects which are mild except if it is taken continuously for years (anti malaria profilassi). I think the current evidence is enough that it should be given to everyone who is not in the trials’ control group. I am quite confident of this and know of no arguably valid argument against doing so.
Robert:
That this has gotten this far without a clear resolution is sad and tragic. I believe Italy and the rest of Europe have the intelligence to do what they need to do without waiting for the FDA approval. They should proceed with what they know and have available and there will be some for which this is too late. Months are going to go by and hopefully we will still be around to converse.
As far as Trump, the Republicans, and those Senators who sold their stock; they have killed us and should be brought to trial. They are no better than criminals.
You can’t believe anything that comes from Bert Schlitz.
Robert Waldmann
March 20, 2020 4:11 am
Interesting information. Let’s just hope our local doctors are being properly informed.
From what I can tell, it is not a silver bullet but would likely save some lives both in terms of beating back the infection—apparently it inhibits the virus from attaching or “locking on” to cells which then reduces the stress on the immune system— and by shortening hospital stays for the critically ill freeing up beds and ventilators. I suspect MDs will have no choice but to prescribe it as the critical cases overwhelm the medical system at least in parts of the country this week or next and over the entire country within the month. That Dr. Fauci does not think it is a silver bullet and has been absent for a couple of days from task force briefings confirms for me that Trump is still playing politics to his base rather than proceeding with the urgency and transparency that the crisis demands. Why he has not ordered needed ventilators and PPE under the authority he has by activating the defense procurement law now in force is beyond me. It is almost like the plan is to “ cull the herd” ala the comments by the dumbest US Senator in the country, the senior Senator from Wisconsin.
Terry:
I agree. I was pharma and healthcare supplies based in several large companies. GMP, hepa-filtered rooms, gowned, new product introduction, etc. I scrapped several million tablets one time for a few $thousand. I am presenting a potential and partial solution to a harsh reality. Europe is free from the FDA and can move forward while we watch and learn from them and wait for the FDA. The French are calling for a larger trial and my thoughts are the same as Roberts’ trial in Italy. If we wait. it will be too late for them.
As far as the good senator, he forgets some of us will not like being culled if he is not joining us. We were fodder in the late sixties and early seventies. I will not be fodder again.