U.S. Stockpiled 63 Million Now-Useless Doses of Hydroxychloroquine
THURSDAY, June 18, 2020 — U.S. officials are trying to determine what to do with 63 million doses of hydroxychloroquine after the Food and Drug Administration revoked authorization of the drug to treat COVID-19 patients.
The government started stockpiling donated supplies of the drug in late March after President Trump touted it as “very encouraging” and “very powerful” and a “game-changer,” despite no proof that it benefited COVID-19 patients.
In revoking its emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, the FDA said Monday that there was “no reason to believe” it was effective against the new coronavirus, and that it increased the risk of heart problems and other side effects, CNN reported.
Along with 63 million doses of hydroxychloroquine, the Strategic National Stockpile also has 2 million donated doses of the related drug chloroquine, according to Carol Danko, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson.
“HHS is working with the companies that donated the product to determine the available options for the product that remains in the Strategic National Stockpile,” Danko wrote in a statement to CNN.
Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat diseases such as malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus.
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