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Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020

Is oleandrin an approved treatment for COVID-19?

Meredith Hertan, Gigafact
no

Oleandrin, a natural compound found in the toxic shrub nerium oleander, has not been proved effective against the coronavirus and has not been authorized by regulators. The compound has been extensively promoted by Phoenix Biotechnology and one of its board members, Mike Lindell. Lindell, a Minnesota businessman, is chief executive of MyPillow Inc. and a prominent supporter of President Trump.

Oleandrin has been previously studied as a possible cancer treatment and antiviral. A July 2020 study touted it as a possible prophylactic intervention and therapeutic for the coronavirus, but the paper has not yet been vetted by other scientists.

In September the Food and Drug Administration released a letter to Phoenix stating that oleandrin had not been not approved as a safe dietary supplement, and mentioning that it had been considered (but not approved) as a prescription drug.

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