Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 30) — The Philippines is now part of an international consortium conducting clinical trials on the use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment, the Department of Science and Technology said Wednesday.
“Meron palang 76 different trials na isinasagawa sa buong mundo na pare-pareho ang kanilang hangarin at ‘yan ay bumuo ng isang consortium,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña in a televised briefing.
[Translation: There appears to be 76 different trials conducted worldwide with the same intension and they made a consortium.]
The consortium meets every month, the official explained, adding the Philippine team will make a presentation before the group this July.
Dela Peña said the country’s ivermectin clinical trials are just set to begin given the thorough evaluation of protocols to be used, along with the assessment of the government’s research ethics committee.
Spanning six months, the trials may yield results before yearend, he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered government agencies to conduct clinical trials on the drug, which is mainly used on animals.
Doctors’ groups have cautioned against the use of ivermectin on COVID-19 patients, arguing there is not enough evidence on its efficacy in treating the contagious disease.
