UK bulk buys hydroxychloroquine as potential Covid-19 treatment

Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug being taken by Donald Trump as an unproven protection against coronavirus, is being bought in bulk by the UK in case it does turn out to be an effective Covid-19 treatment.

Ministers are seeking 16m tablets in packets of up to 100 as part of a £35m contract put out to tender on Friday.

The drug is being tested by government scientists, health officials said. They are securing additional supplies so it can be distributed among the population if required.

The contract, which was uploaded to a government website on 15 May, is an “open opportunity” for pharmaceutical suppliers to supply more than 33m tablets of various drugs between June and next January.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/uk-to-test-hydroxychloroqine-as-coronavirus-treatment

Coronavirus Australia live news: Hydroxychloroquine trial prepared for health workers

Australian researchers say they are preparing a trial of hydroxychloroquine for local health workers.

It comes after US President Donald Trump revealed he had been taking the anti-malaria drug to ward off coronavirus.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-20/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-hydroxychloroquine/12265004