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Showing Original Post only (View all)Promoting hydroxychloroquine is Trump's risk-free gambit to be a hero [View all]
Last edited Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:38 AM - Edit history (1)
At the moment, we do not know if it has clinical efficacy against Covid-19. But that doesn't matter to Trump, if it does work he is going to position himself as the hero of Covid-19, knowing more than the experts. You will hear about his leadership on this drug every day during the fall campaign. If it doesn't work it will never be mentioned again. So what is the risk for him? Nil. If a few people suffer from side effects it will be caveat emptor. The drugs safety profile is well understood, with its effects on cardiac arrhythmia probably being the most worrisome for older patients.
But could it work? Yes, that is still to be determined.
Dr. Fauci is right to call the evidence in its favor anecdotal at the moment. Perhaps the strongest evidence in its favor is that it blocks viral replication in cultured cells and the uncontrolled trials from France and China. The evidence was strong enough for Andrew Cuomo to independently of Trump procure enough doses for 4000 Covid-19 patients and make them available for the most serious cases last month. Also, NYU Medical school is conducting a trial with funding from the Gates Foundation to determine if it can be used prophylactically to prevent infections. It will take a few months at least for the latter trial to draw any valid conclusions.
He may even use any real study that shows any efficacy as an excuse to end the emergency declaration on April 30 or earlier.
Bottom line is that Trump risks nothing and has everything to gain with his promotion of hydroxychloroquine.