Governor Kristi Noem says South Dakota is well positioned to run a clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine. That’s a drug touted by the White House as a potential therapy for COVID-19.
Noem says COVID 19 will be around for a while.
The Republican governor says South Dakota is willing to put the work and time in to research the drug.
“Then, be able to get a relationship with the federal government that when you call them up, and pick up the phone and say I need 1.2 million doses of hydroxy[chloroquine] and they literally get it here within two days… that wouldn’t happen in any other state. I think that’s what’s special about South Dakota.”
Department of Health officials say the trial is in a review process and that the department will need to put safety measures into place. They hope to enroll patients by the end of next week.
Hydroxychloroquine is typically used to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Data is extremely limited on the drug's use in patients with COVID-19.