Hydroxychloroquine. “Wild” trials: the government condemns a new study by Didier Raoult
The government strongly condemns a “new violation of ethical rules” after the publication of a new study by Didier Raoult based on undeclared clinical trials within the IHU of Marseille, indicated the Ministries of Research and Health, Sylvie Retailleau And Aurélien Rousseau.
This new snub from the infectious disease specialist, widely discredited by his peers, comes as the authorities are working to “create a new relationship of trust between the State and the leaders of the IHU-MI (Mediterranean University Hospital Institute). Infection, Editor’s note)”, recall the two ministers in a written message sent Monday evening.
A new study on hydroxychloroquine
At the end of October, the Medicines Agency (ANSM) announced its desire to ease the restrictions imposed on the IHU-MI in terms of clinical trials – suspended at the end of 2022 – without completely lifting them.
The study published in the magazine New microbes and new infections in October covers – like the pre-publication withdrawn in June by its authors – on more than 30,000 patients treated in 2020 and 2021, and demonstrates the supposed benefits of hydroxychloroquine in the early treatment of Covid.
If Didier Raoult, as the ministers point out, has no longer worked at the IHU-MI for more than a year, the study is also signed by four other researchers including three doctors still working at the Marseille Institute, as well as as the American cardiologist Peter McCullough, leading figure of people hostile to Covid vaccination in the United States.
Contacted on Monday, the Marseille hospitals (AP-HM), supervisory authority of the IHU-MI, also strongly condemned “the publication of this article relating to a study which, according to the ANSM, does not comply with regulations and patient protection.
The ministers will meet the management of the IHU Méditerranée
The AP-HM recalls “having previously asked the authors to withdraw this pre-print considering this study contrary to methodological and ethical rules”.
In their message, ministers Sylvie Retailleau and Aurélien Rousseau announced that they “will soon meet the management” of the IHU Méditerranée Infection in order to “ensure monitoring” of the establishment’s new roadmap, and “ 19 recommendations of the report conditioning the continuation of its activity implemented without delay.
On X, Professor Mathieu Molimard, president of the French Society of Pharmacology and author of several forums demanding sanctions against Pr Raoult, reacted: “they would like to kill the IHU which they would not do otherwise. Maybe it’s time to finally say stop! “.
The ANSM, contacted, did not respond immediately.
