Study retracted after claiming malaria drug could treat COVID
Dec 27, 2024, 11:00 AM
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah officials are reacting after a study that claimed a malaria drug could treat COVID-19 was retracted earlier this month.
The malaria drug study raised lots of concerns after it was published. The concerns stemmed from the study’s small sample size and how quickly it was published after the pandemic.
State Epidemiologist Leisha Nolen said she’s surprised the study wasn’t retracted sooner but understands why it was published.
“I think it was the urgency of the situation that made this happen,” Nolen said. “Most of the time there is a much more extensive and timely process.”
Nolden said scientists retracted the paper after three of the authors of the study requested to remove their names from the paper.
According to Nolen, the study had many flaws. The sample size of the study was only a little over 30 participants. Additionally, scientists couldn’t repeat the results after further testing.
Nolen said the retraction of the study shouldn’t make people skeptical about future studies.
Josuee Sanchez is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio.
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