The University of Minnesota has launched two clinical trials to test the drug hydroxychloroquine. One trial examines the drug's effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 disease. It seeks persons who have no symptoms but have been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19 within four days and live in the same household with that person, or are healthcare workers or first responders.
A second trial examines the drug's effectiveness as a treatment. It seeks persons who have symptoms that started within the last four days and are not hospitalized. They must also meet at least one of the following criteria: have confirmed COVID-19 disease; live with a person with confirmed COVID-19 disease; or be a healthcare worker or first responder with a known exposure.
Hydroxychloroquine is an FDA-approved medicine for the prevention and treatment of malaria, available since the 1950s and known as Plaquenil(R). Recent work shows that hydroxychloroquine is active in a laboratory setting against the novel SARS-Cov-2 virus.
The trials are national in scope.
