This new snub from the infectious disease specialist, widely discredited by his peers, comes as the authorities are working to “create a new relationship of trust between the State and the leaders of the IHU-MI (Mediterranean University Hospital Institute). Infection, editor’s note)”, recall the two ministers in a written message sent Monday evening to AFP.
At the end of October, the Medicines Agency (ANSM) announced its desire to ease the restrictions imposed on the IHU-MI in terms of clinical trials – suspended at the end of 2022 – without completely lifting them.
Raoult has not worked at IHU-MI for over a year
The study published in the journal “New microbes and new infections” in October covers – like the pre-publication withdrawn in June by its authors – on more than 30,000 patients treated in 2020 and 2021, and demonstrates the supposed benefits of hydroxychloroquine. in the early treatment of Covid.
If Didier Raoult, as the ministers point out, has not worked at the IHU-MI for more than a year, the study is also signed by four other researchers, including three doctors still working at the Marseille Institute, as well as the American cardiologist Peter McCullough, leading figure of people hostile to Covid vaccination in the United States.
“They would like to kill the IHU”
Contacted by AFP on Monday, the Marseille hospitals (AP-HM), supervisory authority of the IHU-MI, also strongly condemned “the publication of this article relating to a study which, according to the ANSM , does not respect regulations and patient protection.” The AP-HM recalls “having previously asked the authors to withdraw this pre-print considering this study contrary to methodological and ethical rules”.
In their message to AFP, ministers Sylvie Retailleau and Aurélien Rousseau announced that they “will soon meet the management” of the IHU Méditerranée Infection in order to “ensure monitoring” of the establishment’s new roadmap , and the “19 recommendations of the report conditioning the continuation of its activity implemented without delay”.
On Maybe it’s time to finally say stop!” The ANSM, contacted by AFP, did not respond immediately.