It seems we may have a “cure” for COVID-19. Heard about this first on WMAL (wmal.com), the news station I usually listen to, WMAL Interview – GREGORY RIGANO – 03.18.20. Here is WMAL’s description of the interview.
INTERVIEW – GREGORY RIGANO – co-author on study of Chloroquine, Advisor to the Stanford University School of Medicine
– He works to help scientists find solutions to real world problems like coronavirus. (continued here (omny.fm))
The interview is worth listening to, but here is something in writing for those who prefer it.
A drug originally developed to treat malaria is showing signs that it may also cure infections of the coronavirus, though much more testing is needed.
Researchers and virologists in France have completed a clinical trial studying the effects of hydroxychloroquine, used to treat arthritis, malaria, and other ailments, on patients with COVID-19. Researchers treated a total of 26 coronavirus patients with the drug, including six that were given the antibiotic azithromycin, as well.
The researchers released their findings in a study published on Wednesday. The results showed that all six patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin tested negative for the virus after six days. Of the 20 treated with just hydroxychloroquine, 57.1% tested negative for the coronavirus after six days. Just 12.5% of the control group made up of 16 other patients tested negative. (continued here (washingtonexaminer.com))
This for real? Don’t actually know. Others have to confirm the results of this study. Until that is done, we have to remain skeptical. Still, it is worth a few prayers.
Here are some additional references.
- A malaria pill from the 1940s has caught the eyes of doctors, analysts, and even Elon Musk as a potential coronavirus treatment (businessinsider.com)
- Coronavirus Patients In The U.S. (fool.com)
- Researchers Look To Old Drugs For A Possible Coronavirus Treatment (forbes.com)
Anyway, it will be interesting to find out where hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are made. It isn’t hard to google who makes a drug, but we have to ask the companies where the manufacturing plants are located and who their suppliers are. For some reason American companies don’t seem much interested in advertising when they relocate a manufacturing plant out of the USA. So, if the demand for hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin increases, we can only hope the Chinese don’t control their manufacture.
Citizen Tom 
Warn everybody not to run out and buy this drug over the counter because the over the counter version of the same drug is intended for cleaning fish tanks and not for human consumption and one man has already died because he tried the pet store version of this drug.
@John
I don’t think what they sell for cleaning fish tanks requires a prescription. Even the fish don’t consume it. Dumber than ingesting Lysol.
Exactly but when people panic strange things happen. Thank you for your comment. I always love it when you comment.
@John
Thanks. Enjoyed your observation. Heard about on the news, and I had to chuckle. Not pleased when someone kills themselves, but with fish tank cleaner? Thinking that will stop COVID-19?
Desperation draws strange bedfellows.
A (predictable) side effect of Trump’s hydroxychloroquine hype:
https://www.propublica.org/article/lupus-patients-cant-get-crucial-medication-after-president-trump-pushes-unproven-coronavirus-treatment
@marmoewp
You are complaining lunch is not free.
The scientists who did the study Trump referred to were already advertising their results. The Trump administration basically just said that the government would accelerate confirmation that the procedure works. That will resolve the situation one way or the other.
Trump was, if politely, contradicted by his prime advisor Dr. Fauci on whether or not hydrochloroquene is effective against the coronavirus (via FoxNews):
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/trump-says-hydroxychloroquine-could-be-answer-to-covid-but-fauci-says-not-yet
Anyway, that shortage of medication now is not caused by Covid patients being administered the drug, but by “responsible” citizens hoarding them in the hope of getting protection. I simply think Trump has by far the largest and loudest megaphone among the advocates and the action causes actual harm for a number of people without actually benefit to a single patient.
For more on the matter of drug trials wrt Covid-19 have at this March 22nd article:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/who-launches-global-megatrial-four-most-promising-coronavirus-treatments
Key paragraphs, emphasis added:
Sorry, I introduced some grammatical errors while editing
@marmoewp
I don’t think Trump recommended the drug. He was clear that he was hopeful, and he wanted it tested.
GREGORY RIGANO has been pushing the drug in interviews.
Dr. Fauci did not criticize Trump. He did make it clear that the drug requires more testing.
The Chinese cannot be trusted, and a small study can at best only suggest the need for a complete test. However, if we are determined to make it all about Trump….. It isn’t.
Tom,
Trump mentioned the same news on a TV news conference this morning.
Frankly, after I read the newspaper this morning, this information may provide to infer some hope for everyone that perhaps there is some light in the tunnel of this nightmare.
In my opinion, we badly need to hear something to infer instead of defer all the doom and gloom.
And as King Solomon once observed and wrote in this verse.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. (Proverb 13:12)
Even if the information proves wrong, at least it will have temporarily provided a little healing sorely needed in my opinion.
And if it turns out that this is another medicine that was outsourced from the USA, it will be a stark reminder of the folly, in my opinion, of the USA outsourcing 90 percent of the medicines used in the USA.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
@Scatterwisdom
The sample size is small, and the temptation to be a hero is strong. Still, I would not want to be the guy who recommended that the president talk about a possible cure on national TV, and it turned out to be a nothingburger. Therefore, I think the odds are good this treatment works well.
Tom,
Lets hope and pray the treatment works well.
Regards and goodwill blogging
I read a similar story and my mouth fell open— it’s like, here’s an old drug, let’s throw it out there and maybe it’ll stick to something— Plaquenil, the brand name for Chloroquine is what I’m taking for sjogrens and it’s what those take who have lupus— it was used during WWll to treat malaria but they found it helped with joint pain— so this is either very interesting and hopeful or worrisome — but I do like that we may just have a weapon in our old arsenal after all
@Julie
Since you are taking that drug, you probably won’t get the virus. The researchers are going to test that idea, anyway. It would help if medical personnel could take a drug that prevented their patients from making them sick.
I totally agree— and let’s hope there won’t be a run in the drug like there is toilet paper 🤫🤭
I like what you listed about potentially old drugs being the cure. It sparked something in me. It is Christ telling us I am the original cure, return to me.
With all of the advances in technology, God is showing us He is still our God- Still our healer, still in control. Sometimes we have to go backwards to move forwards.
@Melissa
Well, it is a cinch that without Jesus we don’t have a cure for what ails us.