FDA approves hydroxychloroquine as emergency coronavirus treatment

The 'known and potential' benefits outweigh the 'known and potential risks', says the regulator
Jocelyn Wright
Hydroxychloroquine

The US drugs regulator has controversially approved the anti-malarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat seriously ill patients with COVID-19.

The emergency approval for use of the older-generation drugs in hospitals was granted by the FDA over the weekend, despite concern over a lack of safety or efficacy data for this indication.