WHO halts malaria drug in COVID-19 trials

The World Health Organization is discontinuing its trials of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine - and a combination HIV drug - in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.

Saturday's setback came as the WHO reported more than 200,000 new cases globally of the disease for the first time in a single day.

But the WHO on Saturday said the decision does not affect other studies where those drugs are used for non-hospitalized patients or as a prophylaxis.

Last month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine, which President Donald Trump in March touted as a possible game changer, to treat COVID-19.

Another branch of the WHO-led trial is looking at the potential effect of Gilead's antiviral drug remdesivir on COVID-19.

The European Commission on Friday gave remdesivir conditional approval for use after it was proven to shorten hospital recovery times.