US left with 63 million doses of anti-malarial drug HCQ after FDA ban

United States government is w left with 63 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) after  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew its permission for use of anti-malarial drug in treating COVID-19 patients.

According to reports, FDA also revoked its authorisation of use of chloroquine phosphate (CP) earlier this week which is also being used to treat vel coronavirus disease. 

READ: US FDA Withdraws Emergency Use Authorisation Of Chloroquine And Hydroxychloroquine

HCQ and CQ t effective: FDA

FDA has reportedly concluded that HCQ and CQ are t effective in treating COVID-19 patients. US drug authorisation body, in a statement, ted that anti-malarial drug has severe side effects on COVID-19 patients and thus must be withdrawn from treatment. US government had started stocking HCQ in late March specifically for  treatment of COVID-19 patients. 

READ: FDA Revokes One Of First Antibody Tests It Authorised Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

United States revokes first antibody

Meanwhile, FDA on June 16 revoked use of one of first antibody tests it authorised during coronavirus public health emergency. FDA in a release on Tuesday said that it is revoking emergency use authorization (EUA) of Chembio Diagstic System, Inc. (Chembio) antibody test due to performance concerns with accuracy of test. Antibody tests are a type of serological test that helps in providing information about a person's or a population's COVID-19 exposure. 

According to FDA, data submitted by Chembio as well as an independent evaluation of Chembio test at National Cancer Institute (NCI) showed that this test generates a higher than expected rate of false results and higher than that reflected in authorised labeling for device.

FDA furr said that revocation of Chembio test is appropriate because it puts health and safety of American public at risk from false results. 

READ: Brazil Recommends Hydroxychloroquine For Children, Pregnant Women Despite FDA's Caution

READ: NASA, Fitbit Get FDA Approval For Ventilators Designed To Help COVID-19 Patients

Im: PTI