220 Filipinos participating in WHO clinical trials for COVID treatment
Published June 4, 2020, 6:06 PM
More than 200 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in the country are now taking part in the clinical trials being led by the World Health Organization (WHO) in search for an effective treatment for COVID-19.
“Twenty of these hospitals out of the 24, meron na silang active recruitment of individuals or patients na isinasama dito sa trial na ito kung saan meron na tayong 220 patients enrolled (Out of 24 participating hospitals, 20 have active recruitment of individuals or patients in this trial, where we now have 220 patients enrolled),” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.
Previously, the DOH said that 500 slots had been allocated to the country in the WHO’s Solidarity Trial, which aims to test the safety and effectiveness of four possible therapies in treating COVID-19.
Strict implementation of the criteria in enrolling patients in the clinical trial is necessary, said Vergeire, as she explained why only half of the slots were only filed as of the moment.
“Itong Solidarity Trial natin, since we are using off-label drugs, maraming mga kaakibat na mga epekto ito or adverse reactions sa pasyente. Kaya kailangan nakakausap ng maigi ang relatives saka yung pasyente para makakuha tayo ng informed consent,” said Vergeire.
[Translation: Since we are using off-label drugs in this Solidarity Trial, these may cause adverse reactions to patients. So we need to talk carefully to patients and their relatives so that we can obtain their informed consent.]
“Meron tayong mga qualifications and critieria para makapasok ka sa trial katulad ng age, dapat hindi less than 18 years old. Dapat wala siya nung pre-existing condition. Marami tayong mga nakalista na qualification criteria dyan at hindi naman lahat ng pasyente na gustong sumali ay maari natin masali agad dahil nga dito sa mga criteria na ito,” she furthered.
[Translation: We have criteria and qualifications before one can enter the trial, such as patients should not be less than 18-years-old and have no pre-existing conditions. We have a list of qualifications and criteria, and not all patients who want to participate can join immediately because of these.]
Hydroxychloroquine trial
Vergeire also reported that the DOH will resume the use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to new patients who will participate in the trial, following the advice of the WHO.
“Tayo ay makikinig, tayo ay susunod at tayo ay magtutuloy uli nitong hydroxychloroquine (We will listen and follow….we will continue this trial for hydroxychloroquine),” said Vergeire.
Last month, the WHO temporarily halted the hydroxychloroquine trial to conduct a safety review. It was then reported that when it was “used alone or with macrolide, they estimated a higher mortality rate.” This prompted the DOH then to stop administering this drug to new patients who will join the trial.
On June 3, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the Data Safety and Monitoring Committee of the Solidarity Trial “recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol.”
Vergeire said that some may question the change in the directive, but noted that it should be understood that the COVID-19 is a new illness.
“Maaring maraming tao ang magsasabi ‘pabalik-balik at pabago-bago.’ Pero kami, we stand by the position na ito ‘yung (Many people may say that we keep on changing directives but we stand by the position that this is the) evolving nature of this disease and decisions may really be changed quite fast because of this new evidence that we get everyday,” she said.
Virgin coconut oil, other herbal plants
The Health official also said that they are supporting the research initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on the efficacy of Virgin Coconut Oil and herbal plants such as Tawa-Tawa and Lagundi for possible treatment for COVID-19.
“Of course susuportahan ng Department of Health para malaman natin kung ano talaga ang pwede natin gamitin for our community (Of course, the Department of Health will support this in order to find out if we can really use this for our community),” said Vergeire.
Vergeire said that they are willing to provide technical assistance to the DOST, suggesting that they can conduct a trial in a controlled environment such as in community isolation centers. However, she noted there should be criteria and qualifications for those who will participate and there must be informed consent before conducting a trial.
