(CBC News) —The drug hydroxychloroquine, which has been the subject of heated debate as a potential treatment for COVID-19, was not effective in preventing the disease in Canadians and Americans at risk, according to the first gold standard clinical trial.
In Wednesday’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, medical researchers reported on testing the use of hydroxychloroquine in 821 adults in the U.S. and in Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta. The participants did not have symptoms but were exposed to someone with confirmed COVI9-19 in a health-care or household setting.
Hydroxychloroquine is often used to treat autoimmune diseases such as lupus. U.S. President Donald Trump said he’s taken it as a preventive measure after two staffers tested positive for COVID-19. Trump had no ill effects, according to results of his latest physical released by his doctor.
No trials have proven this drug or any others are effective against COVID-19. (…)