Trump just said that the FDA approved hydroxychloroquine for use against Covid-19.

That is medical misinformation:

The FDA gave an emergency use authorization, with a fact sheet that explicitly says there is no approved product to treat Covid-19. https://www.fda.gov/media/136538/download">https://www.fda.gov/media/136...

Before that, Trump claimed that the hydroxychloroquine works well with azithromycin. The French study which he is citing, here and on Twitter, had a sample size of 26 patients. Six dropped out.

https://www.mediterranee-infection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hydroxychloroquine_final_DOI_IJAA.pdf

More">https://www.mediterranee-infection.com/wp-conten... on that paper from LA Times. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-04-01/trump-chloroquine-coronavirus-bad-science-hiltzik-column">https://www.latimes.com/business/...

Readers often ask me who makes the drug:

Sanofi is the lead manufacturer of Plaquénil, the branded hydroxychloroquine. Other companies make generics.

Sanofi and its US partner Regeneron were among big pharma companies whose execs met with Trump in the White House on March 2.

This is the transcript of that task force& #39;s meeting with the pharma execs:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-members-coronavirus-task-force-meeting-pharmaceutical-companies/

Trump">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings... praised Regeneron as "great" company doing "fantastically well" on at the March 19 briefing where he touted the anti-malaria drug. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-6/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings...

On March 21, Trump promoted the drug again in a tweet saying the FDA has "moved mountains." Reuters recently reported CDC released "highly unusual" guidance on the drug on that same day, under White House pressure.

Sanofi& #39;s stocks shot up the next trading day.

Trump just claimed that hydroxychloroquine can only help people, not hurt them. This is what his own FDA lists as side effects on the emergency authorization.

@DrDenaGrayson, who unlike Trump, is a doctor, notes it can cause fatal heart arrhythmias. https://twitter.com/DrDenaGrayson/status/1246561413868457984?s=20">https://twitter.com/DrDenaGra...

Important context: The stock market rallied generally on March 24, and the Sanofi stocks need to be read in that light. Sharing the information simply in response to reader questions about the makers of these drugs. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/24/stock-market-live-updates-dow-futures-up-900-limit-up-hope-for-a-stimulus-deal.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/2...