Australian hydroxychloroquine trials continue despite studies showing no benefit to coronavirus patients

Clinical findings of the antimalarial drug have been inconsistent, with one study showing a higher mortality rate when it was administered alone

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The results of early studies from the US and China, which show disappointing results in the use of an antimalarial drug and an anti-retroviral drug in treating Covid-19, will not impact trials of the drug under way in Australia, researchers say.

To date more than 300 clinical trials in humans are under way around the world to investigate treatments for the virus, with several of these occurring in Australia. Among the most hyped drugs are hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial which is also used to treat people with painful autoimmune conditions, and lopinavir and ritonavir, both antiretroviral drugs. Antibiotics are also being studied.