Teva, an Israeli pharmaceutical company, made formal announcements that it would benevolently donate six million tablets of hydroxychloroquine sulfate, a medication that shows results in treating COVID-19, through wholesalers to hospitals throughout the United States no later than March 31, per reports by Algemeiner and the Times of Israel.
The Israeli company expects to donate another ten million tablets within the next month.
“We are committed to helping to supply as many tablets as possible as demand for this treatment accelerates at no cost,” said Brendan O’Grady, Executive Vice President of Teva in North America in the Times of Israel report. “Immediately upon learning of the potential benefit of hydroxychloroquine, Teva began to assess supply and to urgently acquire additional ingredients to make more product while arranging for all of what we had to be distributed immediately.”
In the United States, President Trump has touted the promising potential of this lifesaving medication; however, Teva North America has made it clear to consumers that hydroxychloroquine sulfate has not undergone the traditional regulatory process to be approved for COVID-19 treatment. That said, clinical studies are indeed underway and possibly being expedited, and the United States government is encouraging the FDA and other regulatory bodies to ease restrictions and bureaucratic red tape to facilitate access to the medication for patients across America.
One small scale French study has shown that the medication relived COVID-19 symptoms in three fourths of patients treated with the medication, though the sample size was 24, according to the Times of Israel. Throughout the world, other prescription drugs are being tested for efficacy on COVID-19 patients with varying degrees of success.
Hydoxychloroquine sulfate is a prescription grade pharmaceutical manufactured under the brand name Plaquenil, though there are generic versions available for cost savings benefits to patients. It is currently approved by the FDA for treating malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus.
The United States is very thankful to Israel and praises Israel for their generous donation to our people in this incredible time of need. Not only is the United States affected by COVID-19, but Israel has not been immune and is also combating the virus waging havoc among its own citizens. The United States is thankful for this medical donation from Israel at this unprecedented time in world history.
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