Novartis launches randomized trial of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

Although the drug has been touted by President Trump and talked up in the media, hard data is still needed to determine if hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment against the coronavirus.

This week, Novartis announced that it is launching a randomized trial to test the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19, which is caused by the novel coronavirus.

Novartis was given a green light by the FDA to launch the study, which will involve about 440 patients at more than a dozen sites in the U.S. The company plans to report the results by June. 

Although there are currently no approved treatments for COVID-19, health care professionals have been trying several medications to help patients including hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir, an antiviral developed by Gilead to treat Ebola. 

There are currently more than 500 human clinical trials underway around the world testing potential coronavirus vaccines and treatments.

Read the Reuters report.