ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — A new global study to test an anti-malaria drug to protect health care workers is centered here at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.
The trial involves the highly touted but not yet proven successful COVID-19 fighter.
Most studies that have been done have looked at chloroquine and hydrochloroquine and other treatments at advanced stages, where it's really difficult to make progress."
The head of the anesthesiology department at WashU -- Dr. Michael Avidan -- is one of the principal investigators of this trial.
"Chloroquine prevents the entry of the virus into human cells in the first place. When the SARS coronavirus gets into human cells, chloroquine decreases the replication of the virus."
Dr. Avidan says chloroquine, when used in the right way, is worthy of investigating as a possible preventative. He doesn't know if it will work, but he is hopeful.
Here is Dr. Avidan's complete converssation with KMOX Health Editor Fred Bodimer, as heard on Total Information A.M. in two parts Tuesday morning: