French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi says it is donating 100 million doses of a malaria drug being tested for use as a treatment against the new coronavirus. In a statement Friday, the company said the hydroxychloroquine doses will be given to 50 countries. Sanofi said it "will continue to donate the medicine to governments and hospital institutions if ongoing clinical studies demonstrate its efficacy and safety in COVID-19 patients.'' But the company also cautioned that hydroxychloroquine has "several serious known side effects'' and tests are so far inconclusive over its safety and efficacy in treating the coronavirus. Sanof says on its website that hydroxychloroquine is a medicine indicated in some rheumatological and dermatological diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Source: The Standard April 10, 2020 08:20 UTC