The Iowa Board of Pharmacy announced today (Monday) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked the emergency use authorization (EUA) for a drug originally believed to be a possible treatment for COVID-19. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which are primarily used as antimalarial treatments or for autoimmune conditions, were authorized for emergency use on March 28 for certain hospitalized patients due to the inability to conduct clinical trials on their efficacy. According to the FDA, emerging data shows the drugs are unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 and their potential benefits no longer outweigh the risk of their use under the EUA. Additional clinical trials are underway to evaluate their use for treating or preventing COVID-19. The full statements from the Iowa Board of Pharmacy and the FDA can be found included below.
______
Iowa Board of Pharmacy June 15, 2020
FDA June 15, 2020
