The clinical trial results on the use of anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin as a treatment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could be expected by January 2022 or by first quarter of 2022, a top official of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) said Monday, May 3.
DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya said preparations were underway to ensure the smooth conduct of the clinical trial, which will likely be conducted by end of May or first week of June.
DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya says results of Ivermectin clinical trial may be out by first quarter of 2022.@manilabulletin
— charissa luci (@chailuci) May 3, 2021
"Maaari pong ang clinical trial ay matapos bago matapos ang taon pero pag-aaralan po pa rin syempre ang mga datos at resulta ng mga pag-aaral so ang nakikita po namin ay ito ay malamang kasama na ang resulta at analysis po ay lalabas ng first quarter of next year, mga January (The clinical trial may be completed before the end of year, but of course, the data and result of the trial will have to be studied so we see that this, including the result and the analysis will be out by first quarter of next year, by January),” he said during a televised public briefing.
He said if there will be more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients who will voluntarily participate in the trial, the length of the study will be shortened.
In early April, the DOST said clinical trial projects will require a minimum of six months and can extend to years.
Montoya said the Ivermectin clinical trial will involve patients with "non-severe” or those with mild to moderate cases.
The research team from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila- Philippine General Hospital (PGH), headed by Dr. Aileen Wang, is now drafting the research protocol, which includes the timeline of the clinical trial and the target participants.
Montoya maintained that the country is targeting to conduct its Ivermectin clinical trial by end of May or first week of June.