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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider PH prepares clinical trials of JP drug Avigan to combat COVID-19

PH prepares clinical trials of JP drug Avigan to combat COVID-19

Published May 2, 2020 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera The Philippines is now preparing for the clinical trials of the Japanese drug, Avigan. This is in an effort to find a potential treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). “Ang clinical trial po para sa gamot na ito ay inilunsad ng Japan at isa po itong collaboration o pakikipagtulungan ng ibat-ibang bansa upang makakalap ng datos para sa Avigan,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. “Kasalukuyang pinag-aaralan ang protocol ng Philippine General Hospital at naghahanda po ang DOH upang ilunsad ang trial na ito ayon sa tamang proseso habang hinihintay natin ang pagdating ng gamot,” she added. The Avigan, which was developed by Fujifilm Holdings Corp., is a drug intended to treat influenza. Based on a recent report of the Japan Times, the Japanese government is set to provide the Avigan to 38 countries in the hopes of treating COVID-19 patients. The East Asian country has started to use the said drug to treat patients with COVID-19 in Japan. Vergeire said they have previously expressed the country's interest in participating in the clinical trials for the said Japanese drug. “Hinihintay pa po natin ang opisyal na pahayag mula sa pamahalaan ng Japan kung kabilang ang Philippines sa first batch ng mga bansa na makakatanggap ng gamot na ito,” she said. To note, the Philippines has also joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Trial that involved four possible drug therapies in treating COVID-19. Vergeire also recently said that the country is looking at joining the WHO’s vaccine trials for COVID-19. The Health official, meanwhile, reminded the public not to try medicines, claiming to treat the dreaded disease, without scientific evidence. “Malugod pong tatanggapin ng DOH ang ano mang rekomendasyon na maaring gamot o bakuna sa COVID-19 katulad ng sangkap na galing sa lagundi o virgin coconut oil. Ngunit importante po muna na ang lahat ng ito ay sumailalim sa masusing pag-aaral ng ating mga eksperto upang malaman natin kung ito nga po ay totoong epektibo,” said Vergeire.
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