On Jun. 5, 2020, the Chief Investigators of the randomised evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY (RECOVERY) trial on hydroxychloroquine reported no clinical benefit from use of hydroxychloroquine in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. The independent Data Monitoring Committee concluded that there was no beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and decided to stop enrolling participants to the hydroxychloroquine arm of the RECOVERY trial.

‘The trial has proceeded at unprecedented speed, enrolling over 11,000 patients from 175 NHS hospitals in the UK. Throughout this time, the independent Data Monitoring Committee has reviewed the emerging data about every two weeks to determine if there is evidence that would be strong enough to affect national and global treatment of COVID-19.

A total of 1542 patients were randomised to hydroxychloroquine and compared with 3132 patients randomised to usual care alone. There was no significant difference in the primary endpoint of 28-day mortality (25.7% hydroxychloroquine vs. 23.5% usual care; hazard ratio 1.11 [95% confidence interval 0.98-1.26]; p=0.10). There was also no evidence of beneficial effects on hospital stay duration or other outcomes. 

‘These data convincingly rule out any meaningful mortality benefit of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with COVID-19. Full results will be made available as soon as possible.

The RECOVERY Trial was conducted by the registered clinical trials units with the Nuffield Department of Population Health in partnership with the Nuffield Department of Medicine.