For its Solidarity Trial, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it was discontinuing hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir, citing little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The WHO said the decision was in light of the evidence from the Solidarity Trial interim results.
“These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized Covid-19 patients when compared to standard of care. Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect,” the WHO said in a press release, Xinhua reported.
The Solidarity Trial was established by the WHO in March to find an effective Covid-19 treatment for hospitalised patients. It was originally designed to have five trial arms, including standard or usual care provided to Covid-19 patients, remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir combined, lopinavir/ritonavir combined with interferon beta, and hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine.