After four years of analytical disputes, the journal published by the International Society for Chemotherapy revived the concerns that the aforementioned work triggered in terms of its respect for ethics, since it involved tests on humans.

It also cited allegations of irregularities in the research methodology and its conclusions.

The study by Raoult and several other authors, published in March 2020, showed good results in the fight against Covid-19 after the combination of hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, and the antibiotic azithromycin.

The research conducted at the University Hospital Institute of Marseille aroused much expectation at a time when the world feared the scourge of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, amid warnings from scientists who opposed using the drug.

Raoult sticked to his views and said there is a witch hunt to discredit him.

Subsequent research showed that hydroxychloroquine was not a treatment against Covid-19 and even considered adverse effects in its use.

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