June 4, 2020

expert reaction to WHO announcement that the Executive Group of the Solidarity Trial has endorsed the continuation of all arms of the trial including hydroxychloroquine

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that the Executive Group of the Solidarity Trial has endorsed the continuation of all arms of the trial including hydroxychloroquine.

Prof Martin Landray, Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, said:

“This is a wise decision.  We do not know what role, if any, hydroxychloroquine can play in improving survival from COVID-19.  We need reliable evidence from large, randomised controlled trials.  This trial along with others, such as RECOVERY, will help generate the knowledge we need.”

https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—03-june-2020

All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink:

www.sciencemediacentre.org/tag/covid-19

Declared interests

Prof Martin Landray: “Co-chief investigator of the RECOVERY trial of potential treatments for COVID-19 (funded by UKRI and NIHR). Research funding to University of Oxford received from Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Merck Sharp & Dohme.  Infrastructure and core funding received from Health Data Research UK, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, UK Biobank Ltd, MRC Population Health Research Unit, and British Heart Foundation Centre for Research Excellence. Employee of University of Oxford with salary supported by Li Ka Shing Foundation, Health Data Research UK, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Trust, and National Health Service.”