Novartis receives FDA nod for malaria drug trial on COVID-19 patients

Novartis has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials to study the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, which is essentially a drug for malaria, for the treatment of hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19. The trial has nearly 440 patients and is expected to be conducted at over a dozen locations all across the U.S.

Apparently, the FDA has issued an authorization for emergency use to let the doctors use the drug on patients with COVID-19 under particular conditions. However, there has been no availability of any official product that has been approved by the FDA in order to treat coronavirus.

U.S. President, Trump has consistently supported hydroxychloroquine as a drug that can prove to be a game-changer across the battle against the new coronavirus. An international poll held recently, that had over 6,200 doctors, found out that the drug was the most effective way to treat COVID-19 out of a list having over a dozen options.

There have been several experts from the health field who have warned against the impulsive decision regarding the drug and have also cautioned against the potential side effects. A recent study on chloroquine in Brazil, a similar drug, had been halted in a group of patients early after it was noticed that some had developed heart rhythm issues.

The Chief Medical Officer and Global Drug Development at Novartis, John Tsai commented that the company identifies the importance of giving answers to the scientific questions demanding if hydroxychloroquine will benefit the patients suffering from COVID-19.  The company mobilized immediately to be able to address the question in a double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized study.

Various firms such as Roche, Gilead Sciences and Novartis have been testing older medicines that were originally developed to treat various other diseases, looking for any signs that they could be repurposed to fight coronavirus pandemic. Gilead has expanded its trial for Ebola drug remdesivir.

 

Source Credit- https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/20/novartis-wins-approval-fda-start-hydroxychloroquin/