The School of Medicine at Louisiana State University will be working with the drug hydroxychloroquine sulfate for clinical trials in an effort to try to find a remedy and possible prevention for Covid-19.

The 400,000 doses are being donated by Amneal Pharmaceuticals after a deal was spearheaded by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and State Senator Fred Mills who is the Chairman of the Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Comittee.

One clinical trial of the drug will test its effectiveness in treating patients who have severe cases of Covid-19, and the second clinical trial of the drug will be given to health care workers who are on the front lines of treating patients to see if the drug can prevent them from getting Covid-19.

The trials will conducted at three places and they include the following:

  • The LSU Medical School in Lafayette
  • The LSU Medical School in Baton Rouge
  • The University Medical Center in New Orleans

Attorney General Jeff Landry says that while these trials will be going on at these three facilities, any doctor can make a request to the Louisiana Department of Health for the drug for their patients.

Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that is typically used to treat malaria.

AG Landry says,

On behalf of Louisiana, I want to thank Amneal for this generous donation. It is important we all work together to help solve the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. We must come together as Louisianans and Americans. This donation from Amneal demonstrates their strong effort to be a good corporate citizen in our Nation. Amneal's donation is one step toward trying to find treatments and cures for this epidemic. Right now, there are no silver bullets. We must remain vigilant against the spread of this virus.

State Senator Fred Mills echoed similar sentiments.

Dr. Steve Nelson the Dean of LSUHSC School of Medicine, says this donation allows them to begin the clinical trials to try to figure out how hydroxychloroquine may help to free the lungs from the Coronavirus.

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