Biotech Values

[iwfal]

NY under Cuomo will run its own clinical trials of HCQ + Azithromycin

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will send 10,000 doses of azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine to New York. Azithromycin is an antibiotic and hydroxychloroquine is used to treat malaria.

Cuomo spoke to President Donald Trump on Friday and expressed interest in conducting trials in New York.

"There is a theory that the drug treatment could be helpful," Cuomo said. "We have people who are in serious condition and (state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker) feels comfortable, as well as a number of other health professionals, that in a situation where a person is in dire circumstance, try what you can." (This is the point, Vin, Clark, et. al.)

The point is that this is NOT a trial. And in an acute setting I think there is a reasonable chance it does harms. The rules of equipoise do not change just because you have an urgent need.

To be clear, I’ve always thought zinc, or zinc plus moderate dose HCQ was best odds. And that HCQ in acute is risky and much lower odds (eg lots failed trials in other viruses). Nonetheless, I would encourage BOTH to be put through trials. In very early treatment and in acute. I am consistent. Things need to be known or, literally, thousands will die in fairly short order.