Dela Peña: Govt allocates P22M for ivermectin clinical trials
THE government has allocated P22 million for the conduct of an eight-month clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of ivermectin against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said on Wednesday.
In a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Dela Peña said the Department of Health (DoH) would cover the costs of the trials, which would begin in June this year in the country.
“Ang DoH po ang nagcommit ng P22 million para sa Ivermectin clinical trials. Ito po inaasahan natin na makakapagprovide ng data sa efficacy, safety and the effect on the viral clearance of ivermectin among asymptomatic and non-severe Filipino patients (The DoH committed P22 million for the ivermectin clinical trials. It aims to provide data on the efficacy, safety, and effect on the viral clearance of Ivermectin among asymptomatic and non-severe Filipino patients,” he said.
De la Peña said the project, which would be implemented for eight months from June 2021 to January 2022, would be headed by multi-awarded researcher, Dr. Aileen Wang of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).
“Magsisimula sa June 2021 kasi itong Mayo ang ginagawa pa nila ay makuha ‘yung ethics approval para dun sa kanilang gagawin at makapagrecruit ng tao, o staff na syang mag-aadmiister ng clinical trials (It will start in June 2021 because this May, they are going to secure the ethics approval for what they will do and they will recruit people, or staff who will administer clinical trials),” he said
De la Peña said that Wang’s team was targeting to get the involvement of 1,200 volunteer participants within the period of six months.
He said the double-blind, randomized controlled trials will include 1,200 adults at least 18 years and above that are asymptomatic and non-severe (mild to moderate) Covid-19 patients.
“Ito ang pinili kasi ang karamihan po ng pasyente natin talaga ay itong asymptomatic at non-severe (This is the choice because most of our patients are really asymptomatic and non severe),” Dela Peña said.
The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) was coordinating with Sen. Richard Gordon and the Philippine Red Cross for facilities to hold the ivermectin trials, he added.
Meanwhile, Duterte also on Wednesday expressed hope that clinical trials of ivermectin would show that they are safe and effective for human use against Covid-19.
The President said he believed that “there has to be some truth” to the effectiveness of ivermectin because some physicians were willing to risk their integrity to allow its use among their patients.
“Maraming doktor bumilib diyan e. Kaya baka (There are many doctors who believe in its effectiveness. That’s why), if there are doctors willing to put out their neck on the chopping board, ipusta nila ang integrity nila (risk their integrity), so there has to be some truth in it. Or at least ang medisina (the medicine) or whatever it is, has an effect in fighting Covid or building the antibodies in your system,” he said.
Should clinical trials show that the anti-parasitic drug is safe and effective, Duterte said it might be used for “palliative care” which focuses on providing patients relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness.
“Maski ano nalang, palliative na hindi ka mahawa kaagad (Even if we use it for palliative, so that you won’t get infected immediately). There has to be an effect in that thing there that is being introduced into your body,” Duterte said.
“Kung maglabas ‘yan (When they come out), that’s what I’m hoping, it will turn out that way we can use it. So that, ako ang unang mag-ano (I’ll be the first). Because inumin mo para ano ka (you can drink it), at least yung (the) preventive,” he added.
Duterte has ordered the DoST, the DoH, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to hold local trials for the use of Ivermectin.
FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said he expects local clinical trials to be completed within six to eight months while international clinical trials may be completed in the next one to two months.
Domingo said it was best to wait for “clearer evidence” that the antiparasitic drug could benefit Covid-19 patients.
“Ang sinasabi lang naman po ng mga espesyalista natin (Our specialists are saying), is that we wait for the evidence…There’s a possibility po that it is useful but there’s also that possibility na (that) it’s the same as not taking it. Kailangan lang po hintayin natin ang clearer evidence ng effect (We just need to wait for clearer evidence of its effect),” he said.
To date, the FDA has granted at least two hospitals special permits to use ivermectin for its Covid-19 patients, acknowledging there was some “pressure” to approve it.
The medical community is divided as to whether ivermectin should be given to Covid-19 patients or not, but reminded the public that there is a lack of data and evidence on its efficacy against Covid-19.
Source: TheManila Times
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