Infamous paper that popularized unproven COVID-19 treatment finally retracted

[pbiflyer]

https://www.science.org/content/article/infamous-paper-popularized-unproven-covid-19-treatment-fA 2020 paper that sparked widespread enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment was retracted today, following years of campaigning by scientists who alleged the research contained major scientific flaws and may have breached ethics regulations. The paper was pulled because of ethical concerns and methodological problems, according to a retraction notice.

The paper in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (IJAA), led by Philippe Gautret of the Hospital Institute of Marseille Mediterranean Infection (IHU), claimed that treatment with hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, reduced virus levels in samples from COVID-19 patients, and that the drug was even more effective if used alongside the antibiotic azithromycin. Then–IHU Director Didier Raoult, the paper's senior author, enthused about the promise of the drug on social media and TV, leading to a wave of hype, including from then–U.S. President Donald Trump.

But scientists immediately raised concerns about the paper, noting the sample size of only 36 patients and the unusually short peer-review time: The paper was submitted on 16 March 2020 and published 4 days later. On 24 March, scientific integrity consultant Elisabeth Bik noted on her blog that six patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine had been dropped from the study—one of whom had died, and three of whom had transferred to intensive care—which potentially skewed the results in the drug's favor. Larger, more rigorous trials carried out later in 2020 showed hydroxychloroquine did not benefit COVID-19 patients.inally-retracted

[tower912]

Confirming what we already knew.

[wadesworld]

Confirming what we already knew.

The "healthcare providers" on Scoop still don't seem to know this.

[Shaka Shart]

Reported for politics. My getting preventively sick and spreading it to you is none of your business

[Skatastrophy]

Reported for politics. My getting preventively sick and spreading it to you is none of your business

The definition of politics is a topic where I get angry when someone calls my opinion ignorant.

[Shaka Shart]

The definition of politics is a topic where I get angry when someone calls my opinion ignorant.

https://x.com/KrangTNelson/status/1002538410802860032?lang=en

[jesmu84]

Is this the report rocket routinely referenced?

[Shaka Shart]

Is this the report rocket routinely referenced?

I'd say yes but also referencing an actual medical paper seems also too coherent