Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine should not be used to treat COVID-19, unless within a clinical trial, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised.
In a statement, the agency cautioned prescribers that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are not licensed to treat COVID-19 symptoms or prevent infection.
The MHRA said: “Clinical trials are ongoing to test chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as an agent in the treatment of COVID-19 or to prevent COVID-19 infection. These clinical trials are still not completed, so no conclusions have been reached on the safety and effectiveness of this medicine to treat or prevent COVID-19."
"Until we have clear, definitive evidence these treatments are safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19, they should only be used for this purpose within a clinical trial.”
“We understand these are challenging times, and patients may be worried, but we are doing everything we can to continue to ensure patient safety,” the regulator said.