Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla on Wednesday joined the calls for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to act on proposals for the use of anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Revilla said he talked to several doctors and patients who supposedly attested to the "effectiveness" of Ivermectin in helping the recovery of those who contracted COVID-19, as well as in protecting people from the virus.
The senator, who contracted COVID-19 last year, said he will file a resolution on this matter.
"Hindi lamang mandato ng FDA, kundi obligasyon nito, na tingnan ang iba’t-ibang maaaring tugon at lunas sa kasalukuyang pandemya (It is the FDA's mandate and obligation to look into possible remedies to the current pandemic)," Revilla said in his statement.
"Kung totoo na may potensiyal makatulong ang Ivermectin laban sa COVID-19, tama lamang na tingnan ito mabuti (If it is true that Ivermection has a potential to help against COVID-19, then it is just proper to carefully study this)," he added.
The FDA's evaluation of the drug could prove its "efficacy" in treating or preventing coronavirus infection, as well as the safety of it use, he further said.
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug widely used in veterinary medicine. Its use and distribution for human consumption is not yet approved by the FDA.
World Health Organization (WHO) representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said during a House hearing on Tuesday, March 30, that further trials are needed before allowing the use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. He said results of initial trials conducted on the drug are not yet "strong enough" for the WHO to advocate its use.
"Without proof, what we are actually creating is a false confidence to people that if they take Ivermectin they are going to be protected. And that could actually be harmful," Abeyasinghe warned.
While admitting that he is not an expert in medicine, Revilla said there is a need to protect public health, "which includes finding alternative solutions".
"Dalawa lang kasi ang puwedeng mangyari kung mananatiling nakaupo lamang ang FDA hinggil dito, una ay posibleng mapahamak ang marami sa ating mga kababayan dahil sa paggamit ng Ivermectin (There are two things that might happen if the FDA kept sitting on this, one is many people would be put at risk for using Ivermectin)."
"Ikalawa ay baka totoo naman ang potensiyal ng Ivermectin at ito lamang pala ang bukod sa mura ay epektibo pang solusyon para masugpo ang pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 (And secondly, maybe it is true that Ivermectin has the potential and this might be a cheap and effective solution to stop the rise in COVID-19 cases)," Revilla said.
The FDA said on Tuesday that they have yet to receive any application for the emergency use, compassion use, or registration of Ivermectin as a COVID-19 drug.
A doctor has already applied for a license to operate from the FDA as a trader for Ivermectin drugs. The license is a requirement before the FDA could grant a certification for product registration for Ivermectin.