FDA revokes emergency use of malaria drugs for COVID-19

"I think it gives you an additional level of safety."

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the use of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19… called it a game changer… and has even used it himself.

But on Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked the emergency use authorization for the drug - saying it was no longer reasonable to believe it was effective in treating COVID-19.

The move comes after several studies of the decades-old malaria pills suggested they were not effective, including a widely anticipated trial earlier this month that showed hydroxychloroquine failed to prevent infection in people who had been exposed to the virus.

Trump in May said he took the drug preventively after two people who worked at the White House were diagnosed with COVID-19.

And on Monday, the president complained that only U.S. agencies have failed to grasp the drug's benefit.

"Well I can't complain about it, I took it for two weeks. I'm here. Here we are. And we've had some great studies... We've had some great reports coming out of France, coming out of Spain. Coming out of other places - the only place we don't get necessarily reports is from Alex's agency or wherever they come from."

In fact, France, Italy and Belgium late last month moved to halt the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients.

And - as doctors pull back use - half of U.S. hospitals in a recent survey reported excess supplies of hydroxychloroquine that they expected to return to wholesalers.