The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Friday announced that the Philippines is negotiating with 25 vaccine developers for potential supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, in a virtual presser, said the manufacturers are from 10 countries.
“Out of these, there are already 12 that have signed confidentiality disclosure agreements,” he explained.
Dela Peña said that of the 25 vaccine developers, there are six (6) from China, six (6) from the United States, three (3) developers are from Chinese Taipei, two (2) from Russia, two (2) from Australia and two (2) from Germany.
There is one developer each from other countries including India (1), Japan (1), United Kingdom (1), and Canada (1).
He explained that for those who have signed CDAs, they will “now be required to send their data for the evaluation of our vaccine expert panel and also the evaluation by the health research ethics board.”
In the DOST Report streamlined on Friday afternoon, dela Peña said that the applications for COVID-19 vaccine Phase 3 clinical trials in the Philippines that has been approved to date are three: Janssen, Clover, and Sinovac.
He added that a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA) with Bharat Biotech for their clinical trials in the Philippines was recently signed. “But it will still have to go through the evaluation process and the submission of the requirements is being awaited.”