OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter is trying to return $2 million worth of a malaria drug.

Spokesman Alex Gerszewski said Wednesday that Hunter is attempting to negotiate a return of the 1.2 million hydroxychloroquine pills Oklahoma acquired in April from a California-based supplier.

Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt defended the purchase last year, saying the drug was showing some promise as a treatment in early March and he didn’t want to miss an opportunity to acquire it.

“I was being proactive to try and protect Oklahomans,” Stitt said at the time.

The drug has since been shown to have little or no effect on severe cases of COVID-19.

Cox Media Group