Following a highly debated study in The Lancet, the World Health Organization (WHO) paused hydroxychloroquine clinical trials for COVID-19. Just over a week later, the WHO has greenlit their resumption, prompted by the journal's formal clarification and distancing from the findings.
As detailed by France Info on June 3, 2020, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the trials' restart during a virtual press conference. This decision came nine days after the suspension.
On May 22, The Lancet published a study led by Professor Mandeep Mehra of Harvard Medical School, which drew sharp criticism from experts worldwide. Renowned researcher Professor Didier Raoult dismissed it as "messy," labeling its authors with a French idiom akin to "shady characters."
The study's key finding: hydroxychloroquine showed no benefit for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and was linked to higher mortality risks.
Responding to protests, the WHO reversed its suspension. The Lancet's June 3 notice highlighted serious scientific concerns raised by readers. An open letter from dozens of researchers—including initial skeptics—flagged issues with methodology and data integrity.
The analysis drew from records of 96,000 patients across 671 hospitals from December to April, sourced from Surgisphere, a U.S. firm specializing in healthcare data. The global halt impacted France too, where Sanofi paused recruitment to review data and consider next steps.
This isn't the first challenge to hydroxychloroquine's efficacy. Earlier studies from China and France, reported on May 15, also found no strong evidence supporting its routine use in COVID-19 treatment.
