Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) today announced Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of the largest U.S.-based generics manufacturers, has donated 200,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate to Georgia’s Department of Public Health for potential use in treating hospitalized COVID—19 patients.
The congressman says the drug could be “pivotal in Georgia’s fight against COVID-19” although there is no scientific proof to back up that claim.
RELATED Debate over use of malaria drug for COVID resonates in Georgia
Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is currently used to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune diseases. President Trump and conservative media continue to promote it as a treatment and the federal government has requested its immediate availability.
Doctors are prescribing it without evidence that it works.
Infectious disease experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci say there’s only anecdotal information, and no scientific proof, that these drugs work on COVID-19.
“There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show there’s no effect,’’ Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS on Sunday. “So, I think in terms of science, I don’t think we could definitively say it works.”
In Georgia, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, the commissioner of the state Department of Public Health (DPH), has contributed her views to the debate.
In a March 22 letter to physicians, Toomey emphasized the absence of scientific evidence on using the malaria drugs for COVID-19. Still, Collins says he worked with DPH to secure the donation from Amneal and says he’s grateful for the company’s generosity.
Georgia is one of the first states to have received a donation of hydroxychloroquine sulfate from Amneal Pharmaceuticals.
