Trump announces FDA making anti-malaria drug available 'almost immediately' to tackle coronavirus
By: Adam Shaw
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Trump announced Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is making experimental drugs -- including those used for treating malaria -- available as part of the ongoing effort to tackle the spread of the coronavirus.
Trump announced at a White House press briefing that chloroquine, a drug designed for use in malaria, has been FDA approved and will be made available by prescription "almost immediately." He said it was one of a number of antiviral therapies to limit the symptoms of the virus that the administration is trying to get to Americans as quickly as possible.
“I have directed the FDA to eliminate rules and bureaucracy so work can proceed rapidly, quickly and fast,” he said. "We have to remove every barrier.”
Addressing potential safety concerns, Trump noted that it had been used previously in treating malaria, “so we know if things don't go as planned, it’s not going to kill anybody.” He said it had shown "very encouraging" early results.
He also said another drug, remdesivir, would be made available to Americans as well by the process of "compassionate use." He said it would remain to be seen whether it would help combat the crisis.
It’s the latest aggressive move by the administration as it seeks to stop both the spread of the virus, and also curb the economic havoc caused by the closing of much of American daily life as businesses and schools have shuttered to stop infections. Trump described a “relentless effort to defeat the Chinese virus.”
He also renewed his efforts to focus the blame of China, where the outbreak of the virus began. When asked about allegations his administration had been slow in responding to the crisis, he took issue with the premise of the question -- pointing to his order to restrict travel from China -- and said it could have been contained if only the Chinese government had done more.
"It could have been contained to that one area in China where it started," Trump said. "And certainly the world is paying a big price for what they did."
During the press conference, Vice President Mike Pence said that the administration has "identified tens of thousands" of ventilators that can be converted to treat coronavirus patients.
Meanwhile, Surgeon General Jerome Adams called on young people to consider giving blood "today" to help combat the coronavirus.
Trump also said Thursday the government should take an equity stake in companies that need bailouts because of the devastating effects of the coronavirus on the U.S. economy, saying he has executive authority to curb the impact on businesses.
"There's a lot of executive power," he said. "If we don't have to use it, that would be a good thing, not a bad thing."
Thursday’s press conference comes a day after he announced he was invoking the Defense Production Act, which would streamline production of medical supplies to help the country battle the coronavirus pandemic and require businesses to sign contracts or fulfill orders deemed necessary for national defense. He has not yet used the powers invoked in it, however.
Meanwhile, the administration has been working with Congress on a nearly $1 trillion stimulus package to reinvigorate the U.S. economy and to provide relief to businesses and workers who have been hit hardest by the crisis. The administration is considering sending checks directly. He said Thursday the package would be focusing on small businesses, as well as industries such as airlines and cruise lines.
Trump on Wednesday signed the second coronavirus relief bill into law that provides paid sick leave, unemployment help and free testing to Americans.
As of Thursday morning, the U.S. has 9,415 confirmed cases of the virus and 150 deaths.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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I believe I called this one..
This could be a game changer!
Is he INSANE ?
/s
He is a war time President! Leadership matters!
For Sure !
That briefing was a very mixed bag. He alternated between saying a few sensible things and wallowing in self pity and idiotic statements and arguing with and berating the reporters. Not "presidential" whatsoever.
President Trump: "I spoke with Mickey Arison of Carnival Cruise Lines and he's going to make ships available. So in addition to the big medical ships that you have coming, if we need ships with lots of rooms, they'll be docked at New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco."
He also says the Government could take equity in bailed out companies!
Hes getting it done!
Heard yesterday that cruise ships would be the absolute worst places to locate the sick due to the inherently bad ventilation systems that tend to cause outbreaks even at the best of times.
Once again Trump engages his mouth before engaging his mind.
I heard in NY, they are using the ships not for the sick but for non- sick.
Once again, the experts know more than you do about these matters. That's who Trump is listening to. And so should you.
I assume they are for emergency conditions when hospitals are full.
I wouldn't want to go there unless all the hospitals were full. I assume you wouldn't want to go there under any conditions. As you wish.
Trump Announces FDA Making Anti-Malaria Drug Available 'Almost Immediately' To Tackle Coronavirus
This is great news!
For the millions of Americans who have Malaria!
(Especially for the YUGE number of Americans who have both Malaria and the Corona Virus...while it won't help with the Virus, at least they will no longer have to worry about the YUGE Malaria outbreak we're now seeing in the United States!)
Trump is not making these suggestions, the medical experts are. Don't you believe the experts?
Quinine. Simple good old quinine.
Several years ago the FDA disapproved quinine products, mostly used for night cramps.
Who discovered quinine? Well in 1638 the Inca Indians in Peru taught the Spanish how to control malaria with the bark of a certain tree.
Hydroxychloroquine was marketed in the US since 1955 as Plaquenil.
MAJOR SIDE EFFECT ( which is why the FDA disapproved it )
Visual Field examination. ... When allowed to advance, HCQ retinal toxicity produces a generalized atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and leads to the loss of up to three visual functions: visual acuity, peripheral visual field and night vision
True.
And BTW, did you know that Donald Trump was responsible for the "invention" of Quinine?
Here's why trump won't get re-elected
Krish,
Your link doesn't work.
That's because when I tried to insert a picture at the bottom, it asked me to drop a file-- rather the usual way. But finally it went back to normal-- so now it works:
Trump's Hurdles To Re-Election: A Scary Virus, Shaky Economy And Joe Biden
It just leads to another article by you.