The Philippines is participating in the WHO research study for potential treatment options for COVID-19.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) — As the world races against time to find a cure of coronavirus disease, the Philippines will soon begin looking into the possible effects of existing drugs on COVID-19 patients, the Department of Health said Thursday.
The following is a list of hospitals joining in the Solidarity trial:
-Philippine General Hospital in Manila
-The Medical City in Pasig City
-San Lazaro Hospital in Manila
SJREB reviews proposed studies to make sure they adhere to accepted ethical standards involving humans.
-Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City
-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City
-Baguio General Hospital in Benguet
The board’s approval gives the green light for testing to be conducted in human volunteers, with the goal of finding out whether four drugs or compounds known to be largely safe hold the key to saving COVID-19 patients from harm. These are remdesivir; lopinavir-ritonavir; lopinavir-ritonavir plus interferon beta-1a and chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine.
-East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City
Remdesivir is an antiviral drug developed to fight Ebola virus, while chloroquine is a malaria medication.
-Makati Medical Center in Makati City
The combination of ritonavir and lopinavir helps control HIV or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Interferon-beta or IFN-beta is used in treating multiple sclerosis, a chronic illness affecting the central nervous system, like the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
-St. Lukes Medical Center Global
FAST FACTS: What you need to know about WHO’s clinical trial for COVID-19 treatment
The Solidarity trial in the Philippines will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Marissa Alejandria from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Alejandria, who is also president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, will work closely with WHO and DOH.
-University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center in Quezon City
WHO said more than 100 countries have joined Solidarity amid the lack of cure and vaccine against COVID-19.
-Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan
Other participating countries include Malaysia, Thailand, Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Switzerland.
-Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila
“The participation of the Philippines to the WHO “Solidarity” trial has been approved by the [Health Department’s] Single Joint Research Ethics Board or SJREB last April 17, in support of the COVID-19 global response,” the WHO said on Wednesday.
-Manila Medical Center in Manila
DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters the study, which will initially involve at least 500 COVID-19 patients in 20 hospitals, could start as early as Friday if they satisfy all the requirements for the Solidarity trial led by the World Health Organization.
“Pwede ma-expand [The sample size] could expand,” added Vergeire, also an officer-in-charge undersecretary.
-Chinese General Hospital in Manila
-San Juan de Dios Medical Center in Pasay City
-Diliman Doctors Hospital in Quezon City
-University of Santo Tomas Hospital in Manila
-Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu City
-Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City
-World Citi Medical Center in Quezon City
-St. Lukes Medical Center Quezon City
