Extract from THE GUARDIAN on 7 April 2020.While “clinical trials...

Extract from THE GUARDIAN on 7 April 2020.

While “clinical trials are critical for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of potential treatments, before they are made available through the health system”, the spokesman said, the drug would be made available not only for clinical trials but “for use in hospitals for ill patients”.

The government said under an emergency exemption to therapeutic goods registration requirements the drug would be sourced from overseas and imported, including intermediates and other raw materials so that local manufacturing could occur.

The department confirmed that the former federal politician Clive Palmer, who has said he will produce 1m doses of the drug, has a prior written arrangement with the commonwealth and so his plan aligned with the emergency exemption.

“It is anticipated that medicines containing hydroxychloroquine sulfate will be made available to the national medical stockpile from a number of pharmaceutical companies,” the spokesman said. “Some of these include generous donations funded by Mr Clive Palmer.”

Hoping IDT is one of a number of local manufacturers chosen by the government.