Chinese medicine taken by Gen. Santos not part of official PH trial --Domingo
By Noreen Jazul
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Carrimycin -- the drug which reportedly helped Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Felimon Santos Jr. recover from COVID-19 -- is not part of the country's clinical trial on possible COVID-19 cures.
FDA chief Rolando Enrique Domingo
(RTVM / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) FDA chief Eric Domingo said Carrimycin is also an "investigational" drug being used in China to treat COVID-19 patients. "Hindi siya kasama sa Solidarity Trial, at wala pa pong nag re-register sa kanya dito sa Pilipinas o nang hihingi po ng permit po sa atin to import," Domingo said. It was earlier reported that Santos drafted a request letter to the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines to purchase Carrimycin. Domingo reiterated that the four drugs included in the Solidarity Trial are Remdesivir, Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir with Ritonavir, and Lopinavir with Ritonavirplus Interferon beta-1a. Domingo warned the public not to buy the drugs under trial as they are not "preventive or prophylactic medicine" for COVID-19. "Hindi po yung iinom kayo ngayon, para di kayo magkaroon ng COVID-19," the FDA chief said. "Sinusubukan po natin siya sa mga pasyente na may COVID-19 na, to help control the disease," he added. Domingo, meanwhile, said that Prodex-B, which is also being eyed as an Anti-Viral Treatment for COVID-19, is already "under initial evaluation" of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
FDA chief Rolando Enrique Domingo(RTVM / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) FDA chief Eric Domingo said Carrimycin is also an "investigational" drug being used in China to treat COVID-19 patients. "Hindi siya kasama sa Solidarity Trial, at wala pa pong nag re-register sa kanya dito sa Pilipinas o nang hihingi po ng permit po sa atin to import," Domingo said. It was earlier reported that Santos drafted a request letter to the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines to purchase Carrimycin. Domingo reiterated that the four drugs included in the Solidarity Trial are Remdesivir, Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir with Ritonavir, and Lopinavir with Ritonavirplus Interferon beta-1a. Domingo warned the public not to buy the drugs under trial as they are not "preventive or prophylactic medicine" for COVID-19. "Hindi po yung iinom kayo ngayon, para di kayo magkaroon ng COVID-19," the FDA chief said. "Sinusubukan po natin siya sa mga pasyente na may COVID-19 na, to help control the disease," he added. Domingo, meanwhile, said that Prodex-B, which is also being eyed as an Anti-Viral Treatment for COVID-19, is already "under initial evaluation" of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).