While some officials are enthusiastically promoting the use of two malaria drugs still unproven against 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), medical experts caution that so far there is only anecdotal evidence of their efficacy.

Rheumatologists and their patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that benefit from the drug hydroxychloroquine are concerned that this may impact their own supply. Experts hope that the effects of the drug will be studied in a clinical trial setting. “It would be a shame if we use a lot of this and after all is said and done we are not able to determine with accuracy whether it had an effect or not,” says H. Michael Belmont, MD, professor in the Department of Medicine, member of the Division of Rheumatology, and medical director at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital.

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