Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 3) — The Philippines may join up to five international clinical trials of potential vaccines against the new coronavirus.
“We are now doing negotiations for collaborations with at least four institutions,” Science and Technology chief Fortunato de la Peña said at a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday.
De la Peña said two of them are based in Taiwan while the others are in China.
De la Peña added that the partnerships “can increase to five,” but he did not elaborate.
On May 22, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the recommendations of the DOST to participate in clinical trials aimed at developing a vaccine against COVID-19.
De la Peña earlier noted that the development of vaccines requires a “very good research on viruses,” but the country has no facility for that.
This prompted the DOST to seek the establishment of a virology institute, mostly to prepare for another pandemic.
He added the research center could pave the way for studies on viruses that attack humans, animals and crops such as abaca, papaya, mango and banana
