Coronavirus QLD: Clive Palmer to fund 30m doses of Malaria drug that shows promising results in treating Covid-19

Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer has vowed to fund the manufacture or purchase of 30 million doses of a malaria drug that early studies show could help to prevent or reduce the severity of Covid-19.

QUEENSLAND billionaire Clive Palmer has vowed to fund the manufacture or purchase of 30 million doses of a malaria drug that early studies show could help to prevent or reduce the severity of Covid-19.

Clive Palmer this morning issued a statement saying he has appointed Brisbane pharmacist Jeremey Sheridan to lead the effort to oversee the large-scale manufacturing of Hydroxychloroquine in Australia and the acquisition of the drug as soon as possible.

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Its understood that the purchase will cost tens of millions of dollars.

“While the clinical trials in Australia in 50 hospitals may take four to five months to complete it is important that arrangements for the large-scale manufacture or acquisition of Hydroxychloroquine proceed quickly so that there will be no delay making a successful treatment available to all Australians as soon as possible,” Mr Sheridan said.

“We cannot wait to start the process of large-scale manufacturing or acquisition of Hydroxychloroquine. To delay now could cost Australian lives in the coming months.”

While there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the novel coronavirus, there is a large scale study underway at the University of Minnesota to see whether Hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug which is also used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19.

US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci last week said there were positive reports of the drug helping in a case in France but stressed the promising result was so far based on anecdotal evidence and more testing was needed.

Clive Palmer said in a statement issued this morning that he had been in discussions with Health Minster Greg Hunt and other ministers and members of the Australian Government, as well as senior officials of the Health Department, to cut through any red tape that would delay an immediate response to ensure that all Australians would have access to the drug as soon as possible.

Clive Palmer has vowed to fund the manufacture or purchase of 1 million doses of a malaria drug that early studies show could help to prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19. Picture: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP

Mr Palmer stated that he had agreed to personally fund the acquisition or manufacture of over 1,000,000 courses of Hydroxychloroquine and to make it available to the government to be placed on the National Health Stockpile for the free use of Australians affected by COVID- 19.

Mr Palmer said the move would result in over 30,000,000 doses being placed in the National Health Stockpile.

“The first 1,000,000 courses will be the first step to ensure that all Australians regardless of their financial circumstances will have access to Hydroxychloroquine as soon as possible,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“We are proceeding as fast as we can to initiate the manufacturing process in Australia, I have a strong commitment not to let the community down. I will spend whatever it takes and do the best that I can to ensure that when the time comes, we as Australians can respond to the challenge that faces us all.”

Me Palmer said all Australians should do whatever they could to help other citizens during the national crisis.

“There are many other Australians beside me that can provide financial support necessary to allow our medical resources to be deployed in the shortest possible time to save lives,” he said.

“I want all Australians who have done well in this country to remember their fellow Australians and the sacrifices that have been made by previous generations and dig deep to support all efforts necessary to defeat this threat to our lives.”