Malaria pharmaceutical company donates 100 million doses of coronavirus treatment | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio

Paris, France- Sanofi, a leading French pharmaceutical company, says it has donated 100 million doses of malaria drugs that have been tested for use as a treatment for the new coronavirus and advertised by President Donald Trump. However, the company warns of “serious” side effects and lack of known efficacy against COVID-19.

Friday statementThe company said that hydroxychloroquine dosage would be given to 50 countries. The statement did not state which countries would receive them. Sanofi is also increasing production, with the goal of quadrupling its ability to manufacture pharmaceuticals.

Sanofi said, “If ongoing clinical studies show its efficacy and safety in COVID-19 patients, it will continue to donate drugs to government and hospital facilities.”

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However, the company also warns that hydroxychloroquine has “some significant known side effects”, and so far no conclusions have been reached as to its safety and efficacy in treating COVID-19. I am.

The drug can cause heart rhythm problems, severe hypotension, muscle and nerve damage. Doing so outside of a scientific experiment increases the risk of monitoring these side effects and issues and not tracking them as soon as they occur.

“Not everyone can take this medicine,” the company said.

This week, Dr. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association, said he did not intend to personally prescribe this drug to patients with coronavirus, saying the risk of serious side effects was “ large and serious enough to be neglected. ” We have shown that this drug is safe. And it is effective for such use.

Sanofi said, “ While hydroxychloroquine has given many hopes to patients around the world, there is no result from ongoing research and it must be remembered that the results may be positive or negative “

Trump is one of the proponents of the drug, tweeting that hydroxychloroquine and antibiotics can be “game changers” and need to be used immediately.

“I’m not a doctor, but I have common sense,” Trump said at a news conference on Sunday. When promoting the potential of medicines, the president often says, “What did you lose?”

FDA Emergency use permission March 28 for use of chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate supplied from the Strategic National Reserve to treat COVID-19 patients. The EUA allows adult or teenage patients to administer medication as appropriate with the patient’s consent if clinical trials are not available or feasible.

For most people, the new coronavirus is Causes mild or moderate symptomsFever or cough that recovers in 2-3 weeks. For some people, especially the elderly and those with existing health problems, they can cause more serious illnesses, including pneumonia.

What is the evidence for hydroxychloroquine?

Some small and very preliminary studies give conflicting results. 1 Laboratory studies have suggested that the virus suppresses the ability to enter cells. another report Eleven people found that it did not improve the speed with which the patient got rid of the virus or their symptoms. Ah report From China, alleged that this drug helped more than 100 patients in 10 hospitals, but they suffer from different degrees of illness, were treated for different periods, in different doses, and without drugs You may have recovered. Drugs for comparison.

Other researchers in China report Cough, pneumonia, and fever seemed to improve faster in 31 patients who received hydroxychloroquine than 31 patients who did not take the drug, but they had a cough or fever first People were small in the comparison group. Four had severe illness and all belonged to a group who did not take the drug. These results were posted online and have not been reviewed or published in journals by other scientists.

Finally, small Research This is a problem now, from France, where Trump advertises as evidence of the drug’s efficacy. The head of the journal that announced it was “Expressing concerns“How about that.

Larger and more rigorous research is currently ongoing.