Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Drug Pushed by Trump 'Controversial' as COVID-19 Treatment: UCSF-Fresno Doctor
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
April 18, 2020

Share

Many people hadn’t even heard the word until about a month ago. Now, “hydroxychloroquine” rolls off the tongue like a sharp-toothed barb to some and a possible “game-changer” to others.

“We are approaching this in a scientific way. We are randomizing patients early on to receive either (a) placebo or hydroxychloroquine. This is probably the only way that we will be able to tell, hopefully, whether it’s effective or not.” — Dr. Eyad Almasri, UCSF-Fresno 
The scientific community is searching for a definitive answer to the following question: Will it work against COVID-19?
And the Fresno medical community is jumping into a trial next week.

Early Readings

“The early reports from hydroxychloroquine within the scientific community — I’m not talking about the political within the scientific community — it’s still very controversial,” said Dr. Eyad Almasri of UCSF-Fresno in a Zoom interview with GV Wire.
The politics that Almasri wants to keep his social distance from are well known.
President Donald Trump and his administration are promoting the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and it’s not officially approved for fighting the new coronavirus. Scientists say more testing is needed before it’s proven safe and effective against COVID-19.

UCSF-Fresno Study Starting Soon

UCSF-Fresno was cleared to participate in a national randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study to look at the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine. It is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

(AP File)
“We are approaching this in a scientific way. We are randomizing patients early on to receive either (a) placebo or hydroxychloroquine,” Almasri said.
Not even the doctors will know who is getting the drug versus those only receiving a placebo.
“This is probably the only way that we will be able to tell, hopefully, whether it’s effective or not,” Almasri said.

Medical Community Safety Concerns

Medical officials warn that it’s dangerous to be hawking unproven remedies, and even Trump’s own experts have cautioned against it.

The American Medical Association’s president, Dr. Patrice Harris, said she personally would not prescribe the drug for a coronavirus patient. She believes the risks of severe side effects are “great and too significant to downplay” without large studies showing the drug is safe and effective for such use.

The Drug and Side Effects

Hydroxychloroquine is officially approved for treating malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Small, preliminary studies have suggested it might help prevent the new coronavirus from entering cells and possibly help patients clear the virus sooner. But those studies have shown mixed results.
The drug has major potential side effects, especially for the heart, and National Institutes of Health infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has said more testing is needed before it’s clear that the drug works against the virus and is safe for such use.
Some limited studies have been conducted on the use of hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin in concert to treat COVID-19, but they have not included critical control groups that scientists use to validate the conclusions.

California Consortium

UCSF-Fresno is part of what’s called the California Consortium based in San Francisco. Stanford, UCSF’s main campus, UC Davis, UCLA, and UCSF-Fresno comprise the consortium. The group’s universities and hospitals are all conducting the same hydroxychloroquine trial.

 

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

DON'T MISS

Fate of Clovis Trustee Race Still Up in the Air. So Are Clovis, Sanger School Bond Measures.

DON'T MISS

Richardson Widens Lead Over Bonakdar in Nail-Biting Race for Fresno City Council

DON'T MISS

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

DON'T MISS

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

DON'T MISS

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

DON'T MISS

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

DON'T MISS

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

DON'T MISS

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

UP NEXT

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

UP NEXT

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

UP NEXT

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

UP NEXT

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

UP NEXT

At the Pandemic’s Start, Americans Began Drinking More. They Still Are.

UP NEXT

California Counts Methodically as House Control Hangs in the Balance

UP NEXT

‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,’ a Christian Comedy, Scores With Audience in Fresno Premiere

UP NEXT

Clovis Wants to Rein in Short-Term Rentals. Hearing Is Tuesday.

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

6 hours ago

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

6 hours ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

6 hours ago

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

6 hours ago

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

6 hours ago

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

6 hours ago

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

7 hours ago

US Says It Will Not Limit Israel Arms Transfers After Some Improvements in Flow of Aid to Gaza

7 hours ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

8 hours ago

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

9 hours ago

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “D...

5 hours ago

5 hours ago

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

5 hours ago

Fate of Clovis Trustee Race Still Up in the Air. So Are Clovis, Sanger School Bond Measures.

5 hours ago

Richardson Widens Lead Over Bonakdar in Nail-Biting Race for Fresno City Council

6 hours ago

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

6 hours ago

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

6 hours ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

A Fresno County man has been indicted on mail fraud charges for allegedly submitting over $300,000 in falsified disability claims using stolen identities. (GV Wire File)
6 hours ago

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

Pete Hegseth walks to an elevator for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 15, 2016. (AP File)
6 hours ago

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

Search

Send this to a friend