Coronavirus News: New York hydroxychloroquine trial delivers 'inconclusive' results

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Thursday, July 2, 2020
NY hydroxychloroquine trial delivers 'inconclusive' results
Medical professionals urge caution when it comes to this treatment that's been touted for COVID-19

NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York's trials into hydroxychloroquine delivered inconclusive results.

The head of the research team confirmed the inconclusive results to ABC on Friday morning.

Those who took hydroxychloroquine, with or without the antibiotic azithromycin, were no more likely to survive their infections than those who did not, according to David Holtgrave, dean of the University at Albany School of Public Health, who conducted the study. The results have not yet been peer-reviewed or published.

"We don't see a statistically significant difference between patients who took the drugs and those who did not," Holtgrave said.

Governor Cuomo said on CNN Thursday night, "I think from the review that I heard basically it was not seen as a positive, not seen as a negative."

The study, sponsored by the New York State Department of Health, looked at about 600 patients at 22 hospitals in the greater New York City area.

Separately on Friday, the FDA warned doctors against prescribing hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine for treating coronavirus outside of hospitals or research settings.

In an alert Friday, regulators flagged reports of serious side effects and death among patients. The drugs, also prescribed for lupus, can cause a number of side effects, including heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage.

https://abc7ny.com/health/fda-warns-of-risks-with-trump-promoted-malaria-drug/6127026/

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