Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) — The enrollment of participants for the clinical trial that seeks to determine if the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin works against COVID-19 is set to begin next month, Science and Technology Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said Saturday.
The study needs 1,464 asymptomatic and non-severe COVID-19 cases, according to Guevara.
“Ang ating patient recruitment ay maguumpisa ngayong Nobyembre,” she said in a government briefing.
[Translation: Our patient recruitment will begin this November.]
The official said the study – spearheaded by Dr. Aileen Wang of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital – will be conducted in the quarantine facilities of Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines Diliman, and Makati Science High School.
Preliminary findings may be released at the end of this year, she added.
Guevara said the local trial is part of an international study led by the University of Liverpool in England.
The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration still do not recommend the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment because of insufficient scientific evidence.
Other clinical trials vs COVID-19
Filipino researchers also tested virgin coconut oil, lagundi, and tawa-tawa against COVID-19.
Two other trials on the impact of virgin coconut oil on confirmed COVID-19 cases are ongoing, Guevara said. The studies being conducted in the cities of Valenzuela and Muntinlupa stemmed from the clinical trial last year by researchers of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in Laguna, which found that VCO can ease symptoms of suspected COVID-19 patients.
The lagundi trial ended in August, the DOST undersecretary said. Results showed the herbal medicine is “safe” to use for the treatment of mild symptoms of patients without comorbidities.
As for the tawa-tawa study, 172 participants have reported they stopped exhibiting symptoms between days three and five.
On the other hand, the country is still awaiting the go signal from the World Health Organization before starting the solidarity trial on COVID-19 vaccines, Guevara reported. But she said the trial teams are ready to begin and the study sites have been identified.
Meanwhile, two of the eight pharmaceutical firms authorized to conduct clinical trials for their COVID-19 vaccines in the country have completed their studies, Guevara said. However, she did not name them.
Guevara also said the DOST’s study on the mixing and matching of COVID-19 vaccine brands may be held in Muntinlupa, Marikina, and Davao.
