Oxford University Finds Hydroxychloroquine Does Not Cure Covid-19; Halts Trials

Researchers at Oxford University have stopped trials of Hydroxychloroquine after finding that it does not have an impact on Covid-19.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: The debate about the effectiveness of the anti-malarial drug Hydroxycholroquine continues even as researchers in Oxford University decided trials of HCQ since it has shown no significant benefit towards COVID-19 recovery.

Oxford University trial

The trial named RECOVERY was testing various drugs including hydroxychloroquine and found no real result pointing towards a success rate. The university has decided to stop enrolling participants for the trial.

A statement by the university said, “a total of 1542 patients were randomised to hydroxychloroquine and compared with 3132 patients randomised to usual care alone. There was no significant difference in the primary endpoint of 28-day mortality (25.7% hydroxychloroquine vs. 23.5% usual care)."

It also said that there was no evidence of beneficial effects on hospital stay duration or other outcomes and the data did not show an impact on mortality rates of COVID-19.

“We have concluded that there is no beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with COVID-19. We have therefore decided to stop enrolling participants to the hydroxychloroquine arm of the RECOVERY trial with immediate effect” said Professor Peter Horby and Professor Martin Landray who are the chief investigators of the RECOVERY Trial in the statement. The results will be presented to the World Health Organization (WHO)

Previous study about HCQ

Earlier, the WHO had stopped the Solidarity trial after a study published and later retracted from The Lancet medical journal indicated higher mortality due to the drug.

The study was conducted by Professor Mandeep Mehra who concluded that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, a related compound, were ineffective against COVID-19 and even increased the risk of death. The study was questioned by several clinicians from across the world, doubts were raised about the reliability/integrity of the data as well as the trial method.

Questions were also raised about Surgisphere, the company that supplied the data for the trial. After the backlash, the WHO has decided to resume the Solidarity trial.

Another study published in the New England Medical Journal (NEJM) raised doubts about the usage of HCQ as a useful preventive measure against COVID-19.

"After high-risk or moderate-risk exposure to Covid-19, hydroxychloroquine did not prevent illness compatible with COVID-19 or confirmed infection when used as post-exposure prophylaxis within 4 days after exposure."

Although in the study the participants were not tested to determine if they turned COVID-19 positive through a RT-PCR test, because of the shortage of test kits in cities like Montreal and Minnesota. So, the researchers based their decision on the symptoms that they displayed.

India and HCQ

India hasn’t stopped the use of Hydroxychloroquine and it is even recommended as one of the steps for home isolation of very mild/Presymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Hydroxychloroquine is commonly used against malaria and is available in abundance in India.

The doctors have recommended it as preventive medicine against the effects of COVID-19, healthcare workers at the frontline of the COVID-19 battle in India are being given this medicine to mitigate possible transmission.