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Woodcock Said To Have Guided Hydroxychloroquine EUA In ‘Brokered Compromise’ To Limit Use

 
• By Derrick Gingery

In whistleblower complaint, Rick Bright claims FDA Commissioner Hahn advocated for distributing hydroxychloroquine to pharmacies across the US, a departure from the approved emergency use authorization. Bright's complaint paints CDER Director Woodcock in a favorable light, saying she helped avoid an expanded access IND protocol for the potential coronavirus treatment.

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Former BARDA Director Rick Bright said in a whistleblower complaint that he worried about widespread use of chloroquine as a coronavirus treatment, given its limited efficacy data and adverse event profile. • Source: Shutterstock

Former BARDA Director Rick Bright alleged in a whistleblower complaint that other Trump administration officials wanted widespread distribution of the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine as a potential coronavirus treatment, despite efforts by him and the FDA’s Janet Woodcock to impose limits on its use.

Bright, who was removed as head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority on 20 April, said in the complaint released on 5 May that his removal was retaliation for repeated battles with Health and Human Services Department leadership over

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