Trials of hydroxychloroquine on coronavirus patients have been halted after they failed to reduce mortality. The malaria drug and a combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir was trialled on patients infected with Covid-19.
In a statement, the World Health Organisation said: “These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalised Covid-19 patients when compared to standard of care." Referring to large multi-country trials that the agency is leading, the WHO added: "Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect".