A study of thousands of patients led by the University of Oxford has said that the hydroxychloroquine drug does not work against the novel coronavirus disease and should not be given to any more hospital patients around the world.
“If you are admitted to hospital, don’t take hydroxychloroquine,” said Martin Landray, deputy chief investigator of the Recovery trial and professor of medicine and epidemiology at Oxford University.
“It doesn’t work,” he added.
“It is being touted as a game changer, a wonderful drug, a breakthrough. This is an incredibly important result, because worldwide we can stop using a drug that is useless.”
Many countries have permitted emergency use of the drug for COVID-19 patients in hospitals, following claims from many doctors, that it was a cure, and the ensuing clamour from the public.
United States President Donald Trump also backed the drug, saying it should be given to patients, and later said he was personally taking it to protect himself from the virus.
