Bayer donates 3 million malaria tablets to US for potential use against coronavirus

Bayer AG said on Thursday it has donated 3 million tablets of the malaria drug Resochin to the US government for potential use to treat COVID-19.

Resochin, made of chloroquine phosphate and an approved treatment for malaria, is being evaluated in China for its potential use against COVID-19, the disease caused by the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Bayer said the drug is currently not approved for use in the United States and the company is working with appropriate agencies on an emergency use authorisation for its use in the United States.

US President Donald Trump, speaking at a news conference on Thursday, called on US health regulators to expedite potential therapies such as Gilead Sciences Inc's Remdesivir and the generic antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, aimed at treating COVID-19.