Hydroxychloroquine Study Retraction Highlights FDA Revocation

A study advocating the use of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment has been retracted from the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents due to ethical and methodological concerns. The retraction was announced by Elsevier after an investigation revealed issues regarding patient consent and the study's adherence to ethical standards. Three authors had previously raised concerns about the study's methodology and conclusions, prompting the retraction. Initially published in March 2020, the study had sparked widespread interest and led to an Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA, which was later revoked. The study's influence extended to public figures, including President Donald Trump, who promoted the drug as a treatment. This retraction marks one of the highest-cited COVID-19 papers to be withdrawn, highlighting the impact and controversy surrounding its initial publication.