WHO Ends Hydroxychloroquine Arm of its Solidarity Trial

The World Health Organization (WHO) has ended the hydroxychloroquine arm of its multinational Solidarity trial aimed at finding effective COVID-19 treatments.

The decision was made based on data from that trial and from Oxford University’s RECOVERY trial, which showed that the antimalarial did not reduce mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to standard of care.

The WHO said the decision does not apply to the use or evaluation of hydroxychloroquine as a prophylaxis treatment in people exposed to COVID-19.