Jezcoe
352
It is an unproven treatment.
We both agree on this.
What is not agreed on is whether the sudden scarcity of the drug means that the people who rely on it should suffer because it might work to save lives… or it might not.
If it was a proven treatment for Covid-19 then there would be no question. But it isn’t. So then is it ethical for people to suffer because of an unproven hope?
I don’t think that it is.
This is encouraging:
Basel, March 20, 2020 - Novartis announced today its commitment to donate up to 130 million doses of generic hydroxychloroquine to support the global COVID-19 pandemic response. Hydroxychloroquine and a related drug, chloroquine, are currently under evaluation in clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19. Novartis is supporting ongoing clinical trial efforts, and will evaluate needs for additional clinical trials.
When supported for use in COVID-19 infected patients by regulatory authorities, Novartis intends to donate up to 130 million 200 mg doses by the end of May, including its current stock of 50 million 200 mg doses. The company is also exploring further scaling of capacity to increase supply and is committed to working with manufacturers around the world to meet global demand.
Novartis Sandoz division currently only holds a registration for hydroxychloroquine in the U.S., and will pursue appropriate regulatory authorizations from the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency.
5 Likes
conan
354
Nice…and I see you killed the threat too. 
JayJay
355
No it doesn’t.
The first paragraph is why the letter was written.
It’s the only practice that can bring doctors up for administrative action.
Samm
356
That is a life or death question …
Samm
357
The first paragraph may tell what inspired the letter, but the theme of the letter goes well beyond that impetus.
I don’t think that those with opposing views will acknowledge. Some prefer endless mumbo-jumbo with no conclusions. Each to their own.
The nefarious truth about socialized medicine is that there will always be a scarcity of services, doctors, nurses, hospitals, hospital beds, medication anything to do with actual medical treatment will be scarce, nothing temporary about it!
Obamacare is a primary reason there are less hospital facilities to deal with covid19 then there were before that HC atrocity was thrust on Americans by Democrats! 
2 Likes
Smyrna
360
Bam. In the private market, where there is scarcity…if it’s early, it’s an opportunity…if it’s late, as in this case, it’s a blunder…plain and simple? Socialism whines…where as the free market would have been prepared and it never would have happened or…the hole would be filled…immediately. If you’ll notice, that’w what’s happening right now. The private sector is donating their reserverves to help fight the lack of government preparation.
7 Likes
Bosun
361
Thank God for the private sector stepping up to the plate.
I don’t understand why GM was ■■■■■■■ around about the breathing ventilators.
Was it against their Union contract to be helpful?
President Trump used the Defense Production Act to order GM to make ventilators.
1 Like
Jezcoe
362
This scarcity has existed in a timeframe that can be literally counted in days.
As far as the private market making up for lack of government preparation through donations … there has never been a reason for this drug to be stockpiled so why do it?
Why expect Minnesota to have a stockpile of an anti malarial drug?
Jezcoe
363
There is also the question of efficacy.
If that wasn’t a question, then this would be a slam dunk.
But it is… so things get complicated.
Actually the private sector went to work on this immediately as soon as there was evidence these drugs work on the buyers.
Three or four different manufacturers stepped up immediately after the French study was published to say they would immediately go into full production and quickly have hundreds of millions of doses added to what’s already in inventory.
1 Like
Always huge stockpile of these drugs because they are used throughout the world primarily for malaria but also for quite a few other ailments.
They also remain constantly in production by multiple manufacturers who stepped up immediately and said providing hundreds of millions of doses quickly will be no problem thanks again to the private sector.
Anyone know if these drugs are having any success in NY or NJ?
Samm
368
How can you determine the efficacy without trying it?
you know, you can do ten years of studies the beginning of which the epidemic will be over with thousands of dead who may have been saved with the drug. after which the drug companies will find away to change the drug enough to patent it and charge 5K per dose for.
3 Likes
Leaders are often defined by the actions they take in the face of adversity.
This is not a time for caution this is a time for bold action.
Taking such actions in times of Crisis is what defines the leader.
3 Likes
Camp
371
Just ran into this…
One thing specific to COVID-19 is that some lab experiments are showing that ibuprofen may boost the amount of ACE2 receptors that the virus uses to infect cells and could make the virus spread faster.
Seems prudent to avoid Ibuprofen if you can.
1 Like
