COVID-19: WHO identifies Chloroquine, other drugs that failed to reduce mortality

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday, said it has stopped the use of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir for COVID-19 trial treatment.

This follows the result of its interim trial, which showed that the drugs produce little or no reduction in the mortality of patients.

In a press statement, the health agency confirmed it had established the solidarity trial to come up with effective COVID-19 treatment for hospitalized patients.

WHO also noted that it “accepted the recommendation” from the International Steering Committee to discontinue the trial for hydroxychloroquine, as well as HIV/AIDS medications lopinavir and ritonavir.

According to WHO, the solidarity trial investigators will stop the trials immediately.

“For each of the drugs, the interim results do not provide solid evidence of increased mortality. There were, however, some associated safety signals in the clinical laboratory findings of the add-on Discovery trial, a participant in the Solidarity trial. These will also be reported in the peer-reviewed publication.”

WHO has said June was the most devastating month for the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 180,000 cases recorded in a day on four occasions and total deaths exceeded 500,000.

The pandemic is now in its sixth month and has affected 213 countries and territories globally.