An Arizona medical group has sued the Food and Drug Administration for limiting use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, arguing that the therapy should be made widely available to fight the pandemic.
The drug has been championed by President Donald Trump as a potential “game-changer” against the coronavirus, but its value has yet to be established. A clinical trial released on Wednesday found it to be ineffective in preventing infection — and the FDA has restricted its use to COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized and cannot enroll in a clinical trial.
The conservative Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has filed suit in federal court, saying these restrictions cause "economic injury" to the association's member physicians.
The Tucson-based group has accused state and federal agencies of “hoarding” hydroxychloroquine.
More than 35 states have restricted prescriptions for the drug, and at least five of those have rules specifically prohibiting prescribing the drug as a preventive measure.
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons also opposes mandatory vaccination according to its statement.
