If President Trump was for a Wuhan Virus treatment the liberal media wanted nothing to do with it. Over the last couple of days, the evening newscasts of ABC, CBS, and NBC have spotlighted and hyped all sorts of possible treatments for the deadly virus, including treatments that wouldn’t be ready for months. At the same time, they were bashing antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which was promoted by the President and had strong anecdotal evidence that it was effective.
During Wednesday’s World News Tonight, ABC’s Dr. Jen Aston promoted a pre-trial drug that blocked the virus from attaching to lung cells. “It's a drug called EIDD 2801. A pill that blocks the coronavirus from attaching to lung cells in test tubes. It could be used to both treat and prevent COVID-19, and it set to start clinical trials in humans this spring,” she explained. “Not a moment too soon,” declared anchor David Muir.
Later that evening, during NBC Nightly News, correspondent Rehema Ellis touted two different drugs that were showing promising results. Sharing the sad story of one family who had a loved one in the hospital, she boasted of the drug called Remdesivir. “Remdesivir is one of ten potential coronavirus treatments in clinical trials right now. Another 15 are in development,” Ellis touted.
She then singled out hydroxychloroquine to be the target of her scorn, and insinuate Trump was going to get people killed:
ELLIS: And critics warn it's wrong to overpromise unproven treatments like hydroxychloroquine, which has been touted by President Trump.
DR. MICHAEL ACKERMAN: In a very small but real number of patients, these drugs could upset the heart's electrical system and even cause the patient sudden death.
While the family she was following couldn’t benefit from Remdesivir, she noted they saw improvement with yet different drug, Actemra.
On Tuesday’s CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell spoke with Dr. George Yancopoulos, president and chief scientific officer for pharmaceutical company Regeneron, to discuss the antibody-drug treatment his company was working on.
“Tonight, we continue to focus on the science of coronavirus. With no proven treatment or vaccine, the scientific community has turned to a promising near-term solution, the use of antibody drugs,” O’Donnell proclaimed. Dr. Yancopoulos also praised “some clever scientists in China” for treating patients there with the rheumatoid arthritis medication, Kevzara.
While they were chiding Trump’s chosen drug now, it wasn’t always the case. Back on March 23, ABC had actually touted how hydroxychloroquine trials were being rolled out in New York City. The difference? The drug was promoted by Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. “New York City now the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. Cuomo announcing his state will move forward with trials for a new drug therapy, the same one pushed by President Trump,” Tom Llamas reported at the time.
As NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham reported, the liberal media were so opposed to the treatment promoted by Trump, that they were ignoring a Democrat who partly credited Trump with her survival.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
April 8, 2020
6:50:15 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: All right, your questions, as always. And Dr. Jen Ashton, back tonight. And Jen, hope today for a potential new treatment?
DR. JEN ASHTON: Exactly, David, it's a drug called EIDD 2801. A pill that blocks the coronavirus from attaching to lung cells in test tubes. It could be used to both treat and prevent COVID-19, and it set to start clinical trials in humans this spring.
MUIR: Not a moment too soon. All right, Jen, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
April 8, 2020
7:16:42 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: In the search for solutions tonight, experimental treatments for coronavirus and the potential lifesaving decisions over who gets them. Here is Rehema Ellis.
[Cuts to video]
REHEMA ELLIS: 34-year-old Michael Goldsmith, husband and father of two, now on a ventilator and fighting to survive coronavirus.
ILANA GOLDSMITH: This is a real life nightmare.
ELLIS: Ilana drove her husband to this hospital emergency room in New Jersey. She wasn't allowed to go in and hasn't seen him since.
That was three weeks ago. Not getting any better, doctors told her his only hope was an experimental drug called Remdesivir. At the time, Gilead, the manufacturer said Michael didn't qualify. Partly because he had been on a ventilator too long.
GOLDSMITH: I couldn't understand why in America, in our live today we have to call people and beg for a medicine.
ELLIS: Remdesivir is one of ten potential coronavirus treatments in clinical trials right now. Another 15 are in development. But with thousands of families desperate for a miracle cure, doctors say deciding who gets an experimental drug is difficult.
DR. DANIEL SULMASY: The trickiest triage part, we have to decide who has the best chance of getting out of the hospital alive if they are on a ventilator.
ELLIS: And critics warn it's wrong to overpromise unproven treatments like hydroxychloroquine, which has been touted by president trump.
DR. MICHAEL ACKERMAN: In a very small but real number of patients, these drugs could upset the heart's electrical system and even cause the patient sudden death.
ELLIS: A study this week will reveal whether Remdesivir is safe and effective. And Gilead has ramped up production to give access to more desperate patients. Too late for Ilana’s husband, but he's on a new drug, Actemra and improving slightly.
What do you miss most about not seeing your dad every day?
DAUGHTER: He snuggles me and now he can't.
GOLDSMITH: So we need him to wake up [transition] because at this point in time, we're really living minute to minute.
ELLIS: One family's hope for a cure versus what science can prove. Rehema Ellis, NBC news, Bergenfield, New Jersey.
