Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) — The Department of Health on Tuesday is eyeing to test the Japanese anti-flu drug Avigan next month to determine its effectiveness in treating COVID-19 patients.
Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told a media forum that the conduct of the study, known as the Avigan trial, is pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration as well as the DOH’s ethics committee.
“Hopefully pagdating ng July, sana mga second or third week, makakaumpisa na tayo ng Avigan trial,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: Hopefully, by the second or third week of July, we could start the Avigan trial.]
President Rodrigo Duterte has said in one of his weekly reports to Congress on the country’s COVID-19 response that the DOH has allocated P18 million for the study.
The Philippines is also participating in the solidarity trial of the World Health Organization, which aims to test the safety and effectiveness of three therapies in treating COVID-19.
The DOH said 330 COVID-19 patients across 21 hospitals are currently enrolled in the trial.
