The solidarity trial is a global effort to find a cure for the deadly viral illness by testing remdesivir; lopinavir/ritonavir; lopinavir/ritonavir with interferon beta-1a; and hydroxychloroquine on patients.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) — COVID-19 patients in the country who are participating in the World Health Organization’s solidarity’ trial, a global effort to find a cure for the deadly viral illness, will stop taking the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine after safety concerns have been raised, the Department of Health announced on Tuesday.
“This morning, nagpalabas na po ng sulat ang ating proponent at pinadala sa ating opisina na sinasabi nga po nila (Our proponent has sent a letter to our office, saying) that we are pulling out and we are stopping from giving this hydrochloroquine to our patients because of WHO’s advise,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in a media forum.
“Now with regard to the results, o anumang resulta nito sa ating mga pasyente hanggang ngayon na naospital, hindi pa ho natin pwedeng ilabas yan dahil (Whatever its results are on our patients will remain confidential, as) we are on the clinical trial phase,” Vergeire added.
At least 150 Filipino patients are taking part in the clinical trial, Dr. Marissa Alejandria, the Philippine representative for the international clinical trial, told CNN Philippines last week.
She later clarified in a briefing that the use of the drug will be postponed only on patients who have not yet started the treatment while those who have already received the drug will continue taking it until their treatment is complete.
WHO announced on Monday that it is suspending its clinical trial on hydroxychloroquine, while its board is doing a review on safety data.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision was based on the large study published on Friday in the medical journal The Lancet, which disclosed that seriously ill COVID-19 patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine were more likely to die.
“[Para] sa mga pasyenteng sumasailalim na sa treatment na ito, magpapatuloy sila hanggang matapos nila ang kanilang treatment,” she said.
United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the drug as a possible treatment for COVID-19 despite experts’ warning against it. He has said he is taking it himself to prevent contracting the viral infection.
[Translation: For the patients who are already undergoing this treatment, they will continue until the treatment runs its course.]
Meanwhile, clinical research continues on other drugs or combinations, namely remdesivir; lopinavir-ritonavir and lopinavir-ritonavir plus interferon beta, WHO said.
CNN Philippines’ Carolyn Bonquin and Catherine Modesto contributed to this report
This was also the advice of the WHO, she told CNN Philippines in a text message.
