State health officials are continuing a screening process for individuals to test hydroxychloroquine on individuals, despite warnings from the Food and Drug Administration.
Friday morning, the FDA issued a warning against using the anti-malaria drug for the purpose of treating or preventing COVID-19 outside of a hospital setting or clinical trial.
State Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon says there are two components of the study.
“Individuals who are positive can work with their provider to see if they should be treated with this particular drug,” Malsam-Rysdon says. “Then, there’s the clinical study that is the randomized placebo study that will be for folks that are not positive. Either way, people should contact their physician or provider to determine if this is an appropriate thing for them to consider.”
Malsam-Rysdon says no one has been enrolled in the study, yet. Sanford officials say they’re still working out the rules and protocols for the study.
The FDA says it’s receiving reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19 who are treated with the drug.
Hydroxychloroquine is being pushed by the White House as a potential cure for COVID-19. Studies are inconclusive.
The state received 1.2 million doses of the drug from the national strategic stockpile. Governor Kristi Noem says that’s enough for about 1 in 8 South Dakotans.
