THE Department of Health on Tuesday announced the suspension of the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in the ongoing “Solidarity Trial” aimed at finding a cure for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The World Health Organization, which is leading the Solidarity Trial involving a number of countries including the Philippines, said safety concerns prompted its decision to suspend the use of hydroxychloroquine. A study showed that patients face the risk of developing heart rhythm complications from hydroxychloroquine.
There are 81 volunteer-patients in 12 local hospitals, who are participating in the WHO Solidarity Trial.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire declined to say what conditions the patients under the trial are in. “With regards to its results to our patients, we cannot release them because we are on the clinical trial phase,” she said.
Aside from hydroxychloroquine, involved in the trials are the investigational antiviral drug remdesivir, the antiretroviral drugs Lopinavir with Ritonavir which are used to treat HIV, and Lopinavir with Ritonavir plus Interferon beta-1a.
The Food and Drug Administration is warning the public on the risk of “QT prolongation,” an adverse reaction to a drug that can lead to sudden cardiac death, linked to the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine.
Based on FDA Advisory No. 2020-810, the FDA said the magnitude of QT prolongation may even increase with increasing concentrations of the drug.
“The FDA reminds all hospitals and healthcare providers to take extreme caution on the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine due to the risk of QT prolongation,” said FDA Director General Eric Domingo.
“Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine should be used with caution in patients with congenital or documented acquired QT prolongation,” he added.
Among those at direct risk, the FDA said, are persons with cardiac disease like heart failure and myocardial infarction, among others.
The FDA issued the warning after recording 30 cases of QT prolongation from March 23 to May 12 due to the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine.
