WATCH: No evidence behind hydroxychloroquine as coronavirus treatment, whistleblower says

Vaccine expert Rick Bright told lawmakers on May 14 that while he has heard anecdotal data from physicians about the potential benefits of using the drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, randomized controlled studies have not shown sufficient evidence. “Most of the data coming out from those clinical studies to date haven’t shown an overwhelming level of evidence that it has benefits in those patients,” Bright said. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug that has been promoted by President Donald Trump as a potential treatment for coronavirus. But there is conflicting federal guidance on whether it is safe when used this way, and many experts say there is not yet enough data to support the claim. Bright testified on Thursday before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s health subcommittee in a hearing dedicated to “protecting scientific integrity” of the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. In a whistleblower complaint filed last week, Bright said he was reassigned to a different position in late April for pushing back against the Trump administration’s virus response strategy.

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