WHO drops anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine study for potential coronavirus treatment

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Wednesday that it is dropping anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine from its global study looking for potential treatments for the coronavirus. The decision came after data from its trial and another study suggested it would not be beneficial.

The announcement is likely to further dampen hopes about the drug. On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it was ending its emergency use authorisation for the drug after concluding it was “unlikely to be effective.”

Earlier this year, hydroxychloroquine generated excitement after a handful of small studies suggested it could be beneficial. U.S. President Donald Trump promoted it as a potential treatment for the virus and said he personally took it as a preventive measure against the disease.