The U.S. will stockpile large quantities of an anti-malarial drug, the president says, though proo

[riversedge]

Almost immediately after the briefing started, the president lashed out at the news media, saying it is “critical that certain media outlets stop spreading certain false rumors and creating fear and panic with the public.”




The U.S. will stockpile large quantities of an anti-malarial drug, the president says, though proof it can treat coronavirus is scant.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-coronavirus-world&variant=show&region=MID_MAIN_CONTENT&context=storyline_updates_world#link-25808099


President Trump appeared to suggest on Saturday that the federal government was placing large amounts of the anti-malarial drug hydroxycholoroquine in its Strategic National Stockpile, speaking optimistically about its potential to treat coronavirus patients and saying he would consider taking it himself if needed.

But only anecdotal reports and one small clinical trial have shown any benefits, and the F.D.A. has not approved the drug for coronavirus treatments. Also, a spike in interest in the drug the president has helped fan has left patients who rely on it to treat chronic diseases wondering whether they will be able to fill their prescriptions.

“We’re going to be distributing it through the Strategic National Stockpile,” Mr. Trump said at a White House news conference, adding, “we have millions and millions of doses of it.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services received 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate last month from Sandoz, a division of Novartis, a pharmaceutical company based in Switzerland, for use in clinical trials and potentially treating coronavirus patients.

Previous reports from China and France that hydroxychloroquine seemed to help patients, along with enthusiastic comments from Mr. Trump, have created a buzz around the drug and the closely related chloroquine, which have been used for decades to treat autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The subsequent surge in demand has led to hoarding and shortages. .......................

[malaise]

1. They can't unless they plan to invade India

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213237364

[FBaggins]

12. Or just threaten them a little

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/india-releases-hydroxychloroquine-stocks-amid-pressure-from-trump

[malaise]

13. Oh My - have you seen this?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213245786

[FBaggins]

14. I have... and still consider it ridiculous conspiracy woo.

Nothing I’ve seen speculated so far passes the smell test as even remotely plausible.

[FBaggins]

15. Forbes reporting later in the day estimated the total investment at $3,000

I'd guess that he loses ten times that much at each hotel for each day of the quarantine.

[duforsure]

2. Some way is he going to benefit financially

From this drug being used?

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. HE AND his crime family, kushner etc have bought a company making this, count on it

[Hoyt]

6. It's really cheap. I doubt he'll profit directly, if it actually helps, which is questionable.

[msongs]

3. false scarcity so his friends can make $$ off an otherwise cheap generic nt

[Afromania]

5. Why does he have such a thing for this unproven drug but won't do things we know help?

Geeeze

[SoonerPride]

8. because he so wants this to be a magic cure

and then he will take 100% credit.

he wants to be seen as this prescient messiah who knows more than experts and scientists, because why respect them? he knows best.

[gristy]

10. Yes - it's a hail mary

and it won't be the last one.

[SlogginThroughIt]

16. it is almost like

Almost like he knows something, or thinks he knows something about this. Must stop the conspiracy thoughts.

[SoonerPride]

7. it is just for THEM, and not for the states because that's how stockpiles work,

right?

sigh

[Journeyman]

9. It is my fervent hope enough will be available for those with legitimate needs for it . . .

My wife has RA and needs hydroxychloroquine to keep her inflammation in check. Without it, her day to day existence will become a misery, and she'll be left more susceptible for a range of infections, including cover-19. It's the same with those who battle lupus.

I would hate to think that, in a misguided effort to save one medically challenged person, we consign countless others to untold levels of suffering and place their lives at risk.

[rockfordfile]

11. Who's paying for that?