Safety fears over drug hyped to treat the coronavirus spark global confusion

Safety fears over drug hyped to treat the coronavirus spark global confusion

Hydroxychloroquine study questioned

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) and regulators in the United Kingdom, France and Australia paused the testing of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment because of safety concerns. A large observational study published in The Lancet linked the antimalarial drug to an elevated risk of death and abnormal heart rhythms when used as a coronavirus therapy. Now the study itself is under scrutiny: 120 researchers have signed a letter to the journal highlighting concerns about the quality of the data and its analysis. Researchers are worried that hydroxychloroquine’s bad press will dissuade people from joining further trials — leaving questions about the drug unanswered.
Nature | 7 min read