Covid-19: a large study to “close the debate” on chloroquine

The Angers University Hospital announced on Tuesday the launch of a large study " with the highest scientific and methodological standards ", involving 1,300 patients with Covid-19, in order to " close the debate " on the effectiveness of a derived from chloroquine. “ This is a study that meets the highest scientific and methodological standards. It will be carried out under conditions which will not leave room for doubt in the analysis of the results, ”underlined Prof. Vincent Dubée, principal investigator of the project, during a press briefing.

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Professor Didier Raoult has published two studies on a derivative of chloroquine, which confirm, according to him, the “ effectiveness ” of this treatment against the coronavirus, but this assertion is disputed by many scientists, who criticize in particular the methodology used. The Angevin study, called Hycovid and conducted with 32 other hospitals in France, "will allow us to answer these questions definitively and to close once and for all the debate on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine ", (derived from the chloroquine, a drug against malaria, editor's note) in the Covid, assured Professor Dubée.

"We have a neutral position vis-à-vis this molecule. We obviously all have great hope that this molecule will be active in the Covid. Nevertheless, we are aware of the limits of the results of the studies published by Professor Raoult's team, " he added. "We do not have a priori, we did not participate in the media uproar around this molecule." The Hycovid study, which must start on Wednesday, will be conducted in double blind: neither patients nor doctors will know if the patient is receiving chloroquine or a placebo. Half of the patients will receive a placebo, the other half of chloroquine. These will be patients aged 75 years or more or patients needing oxygen without being in acute respiratory distress.

Patients can be hospitalized, residents of a nursing home or simply at home. “ One of the strengths of this study is that it will include patients with a non-serious form of the disease but at high risk for an unfavorable course, like certain elderly people. We will therefore treat people early, which is probably a determining factor in the success of treatment, "said Professor Dubée. The first results should be known in "a few weeks ", he promised.

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