Trump, "Taking Chloroquine Daily... Do Not Own a Single Share of the Manufacturer"

FDA Also Advises Against Use Without Prescription
11 Deaths Reported During COVID-19 Efficacy Trial in Brazil

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by revealing that he takes the malaria treatment drug hydroxychloroquine (hereafter referred to as chloroquine) daily to prevent COVID-19. This drug was previously discontinued in Brazil after 11 people died from severe arrhythmia side effects during efficacy trials, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also warned against taking it without a doctor's prescription.

According to foreign media including CNBC, on the 18th (local time), President Trump stated at a White House press conference, "I have been taking chloroquine and azithromycin together for the past week to prevent COVID-19," adding, "I have heard many good things and thought this medicine was good, so I started taking it." President Trump revealed that his personal physician did not recommend the drug but said it was okay to take if he wanted. Previously, President Trump had praised chloroquine as a promising candidate for COVID-19 treatment.

However, chloroquine has continued to be controversial as it is a drug that the FDA has warned should not be taken without a doctor's prescription due to problems such as deaths caused by severe side effects during trials conducted earlier in Brazil. According to The New York Times (NYT), on the 12th of last month, a Brazilian research team conducted a trial administering chloroquine to 81 COVID-19 patients, but on the sixth day of the experiment, 11 patients died from severe arrhythmia, leading to the trial's suspension.

Nevertheless, President Trump dismissed concerns about side effects, emphasizing, "What I can say is that so far I seem to be fine," and "This drug has been used for over 40 years and is prescribed by many doctors." He also added, "I do not own a single share of stock in the company that manufactures this drug."

Meanwhile, chloroquine, manufactured by the French company Sanofi, was developed as a malaria treatment drug and is also used for treating rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.