India lifts export ban on Trump-touted drug hydroxychloroquine

The country, a leading exporter of generic medicines across the world, banned the export of the drug and its formulations in March as the coronavirus outbreak disrupted supply chains.

But India eased some of these restrictions in April and shipped percent0 million tablets of the drug to the United States that month, Reuters reported.

Trump's championing of hydroxychloroquine had initially raised expectations for the treatment, but conflicting reports of its efficacy have added to confusion about the decades-old drug.

British scientists last week halted a major trial after it found that the drug was "useless" at treating COVID-19 patients.

A Lancet medical journal study that found hydroxychloroquine increased the risk of death in COVID-19 patients was withdrawn a week after it led to major trials being halted.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said it will resume its trial of the drug for potential use against the novel coronavirus after those running the study briefly stopped giving it to new patients over health concerns.

Hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19: Can we go back to science?

IPCA Laboratories and Cadila Healthcare are two leading Indian manufacturers of the drug. IPCA's shares were down 1.2 percent, while Cadila's stock was up 1 percent in a broader Mumbai market that was lower on Thursday.