WHO, "Chloroquine studies temporarily halted, time to prepare for the second COVID-19 peak"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it will temporarily halt research on hydroxychloroquine (hereafter chloroquine), a COVID-19 treatment drug that has faced safety controversies during clinical trials. At the same time, WHO warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and that a second peak may occur.

On the 25th (local time), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated at a virtual briefing held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, "The chloroquine research has been temporarily suspended while the Data Safety Monitoring Board reviews safety. We have agreed with participating countries in the solidarity trial to re-examine comprehensive analyses and critical evaluations."

Previously, chloroquine was reported to increase the risk of death by up to 34% by causing severe cardiac arrhythmias during resumed clinical trials involving over 96,000 COVID-19 patients across 671 hospitals worldwide. The drug had attracted international attention after U.S. President Donald Trump praised it, stating he took it for two weeks as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

WHO also emphasized that the world is still in the midst of the first wave of COVID-19 and that it is time to prepare for a possible second peak before a second wave occurs. Michael Ryan, WHO Deputy Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, who attended the briefing with Director-General Ghebreyesus, said, "Although the spread of COVID-19 has significantly decreased, this is due to very strong health measures. It is important to recognize that this disease can surge again at any time. A second peak can occur even before October, when the Northern Hemisphere gets colder."