WHO suspends trial of drug Donald Trump had been taking over safety fears

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced it is suspending a trial of hydroxychloroquine in coronavirus patients over safety concerns.

US President Donald Trump announced he had been taking the anti-malaria drug earlier this month, and yesterday confirmed he had finished a two-week course.

A study published in The Lancet on Friday revealed higher mortality rates among COVID-19 patients who had taken the drug.

Researchers have now paused its use in the WHO’s worldwide Solidarity trial.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today announced: “The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity trial while the safety data is reviewed by the data safety monitoring board.”

One leader of the study, Dr Mandeep Mehra, a heart specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, said: "Not only is there no benefit, but we saw a very consistent signal of harm."

The death rate attributable to use of the drugs, with or without an antibiotic, is approximately 13% versus 9% for patients not taking them, according to the latest study.

The risk of developing a serious heart rhythm problem is also five times greater, it claims.

Trump yesterday told reporters “I’m still here” after finishing his course of the drug.

He added: “I’ve heard tremendous reports about it. Frankly, I've heard tremendous reports.

“Many people think it saved their lives. Doctors come out with reports.

“You had a study in France, you had a study in Italy that were incredible studies.”

There are currently no approved treatments for COVID-19.

Trump suggested he started taking hydroxychloroquine after two White House workers tested positive for the virus.

He explained: “I believe in it enough that I took a programme because I had two people in the White House that tested positive.

“I figured maybe it's a good thing to take a programme."

The Food and Drug Administration has warned against using the drug outside of hospital settings because of a risk of serious heart problems.