U.S. Sends 2 Million Doses of Hydroxychloroquine to Brazil

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U.S. Sends 2 Million Doses of Hydroxychloroquine to Brazil

A joint statement from the countries said they will work together on clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine to evaluate its efficacy and safety.

 

By Alexa Lardieri, Staff Writer June 1, 2020, at 8:18 a.m.

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U.S. Sends Hydroxychloroquine to Brazil

 

 

While Trump has lauded the anti-malaria drug as an effective treatment for the novel coronavirus, there has been no scientific evidence that shows it is effective. (AP PHOTO/BEN MARGOT)

THE UNITED STATES announced that it has sent 2 million doses of the anti-malaria drug touted as a coronavirus treatment by President Donald Trump to Brazil.

In a joint statement Sunday, the U.S. and Brazil said the hydroxychloroquine will be used as a prophylactic to defend health care workers in Brazil against the virus, as well as a treatment to help Brazilians who become infected.

 

The U.S. is also sending 1,000 ventilators to Brazil, which has the second most cases of COVID-19 in the world. Globally, health officials report more than 6.18 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 372,460 deaths.

The U.S. leads the world in cases, with more than 1.79 million, and deaths, with more than 104,380. Brazil has more than 514,850 cases and 29,314 deaths.

While Trump has lauded the anti-malaria drug as an effective treatment for the novel coronavirus and revealed last month he had been taking it, no scientific evidence has shown it is effective.

A study published in The Lancet last month found that coronavirus patients given hydroxychloroquine actually had an increased risk of death and abnormal heart rhythms. However, that study has faced scrutiny. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump, has also promoted hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19.

The countries announced that they will launch a joint research effort that will include randomized controlled clinical trials to "help further evaluate the safety and efficacy of HCQ for both prophylaxis and the early treatment of the coronavirus."

A small study of the drug conducted in Brazil was halted because of the risk of fatal heart complications, while the U.S. began its own clinical trial in April.

The statement said Trump and Bolsonaro have spoken twice since March and the countries are "well positioned to continue their work together."

"Going forward, the United States and Brazil will remain in close coordination in the shared fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing regional response to safeguard public health, further limit the spread of the coronavirus, advance the early development of a vaccine, and save lives," the statement continued.