The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) welcomed Monday, April 5, the decision of vaccine developer Janssen Pharmaceuticals to apply for an emergency use authorization (EUA) of its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine in the Philippines.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña and Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara, chair of the Task Group  on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection (TG-VES), cheered at the announcement of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that Janssen, which is owned by American multinational company Johnson & Johnson, filed for an EUA on March 31.

"We welcome the news of another COVID-19 vaccine applying for EUA in the Philippines. One good thing is that they did clinical trials in the Philippines the results of which only the vaccine developing company can announce,” he told the Manila Bulletin in a Viber message. 

Three vaccine developers have been given the green  light to conduct their Phase 3 clinical trials in the Philippines. These include Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Clover Pharmaceuticals, and Sinovac Biotech.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals started in February  its Phase 3 vaccine clinical trials in the country.

"More vaccines with EUA approved by Philippine FDA means more vaccines can enter the country adding to the adequacy of supply,” de la Peña said.

He noted that the DOST was involved in vaccine evaluation prior to clinical trials where the FDA is also the approving authority, particularly through DOST’s Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP). 

"FDA can also tap the services of the VEP in processing EUA applications,” he added. 

Guevara confirmed Janssen’s EUA application. 

"As chair of the Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection, DOST also reported the same to the NTF Vaccine Cluster last Wednesday.”

"This is a good development since Janssen is one of the 11 vaccines recommended by our Task Group to the Vaccine Cluster for government procurement,” Guevara said.