A total of 1,065 coronavirus disease (COVID19) patients in the country are currently participating in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Trial for treatments, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
“Ito pong Solidarity trial for therapeutics yung sa WHO, yung ating recruitment is still ongoing. Meron na po tayong 1,065 patients recruited already in the entire country,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an online forum.
Vergeire said that the additional vials of antiviral drug remdesivir and interferon, that are needed for the trials, have already arrived in the Philippines.
The Solidarity Trial is being led by the WHO in search for off-label drugs that may help treat patients afflicted with COVID-19.
The DOH has yet to give an update regarding the effects of the investigational drugs.
“Hangga’t hindi pa tapos ang trials hindi tayo makapagbigay ng adequate na information ,” said Vergeire.
“Magbibigay tayo ng information pag nakapangkalap na tayo ng mas conclusive na evidence kasi itong mga nakikita natin ay paisa-isa palang na obserbasyon ,” she added.
Avigan
As for the Japanese anti-flu drug Avigan, Vergeire said that they are still finalizing some documents before they could formally start the clinical trials. The trial was supposed to start last month.
“Yung Avigan, napirmahan na actually yung clinical trial agreement, hinahantay nalang natin yung ibang kailangan isagawa para maumpisahan na natin ito ,” she said.
“Kami ay mag finalize na ng arrangements para maumpisahan na ang Avigan trial ,” she added.