PH enrolling more patients for solidarity trial next week

Published May 7, 2020 1:34:54 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 7) — More Covid-19 Filipino patients will be enrolled in the World Health Organization’s solidarity trial next week.

The health department says 16 hospitals will enlist patients who will be part of the study that will test the effectiveness of possible therapies for Covid-19.

Currently, 40 patients from eight hospitals in the Philippines have been enrolled.

“Aantabayanan po natin ang resulta ng WHO Solidarity Trial bago natin baguhin ang rekumendasyon sa paggamit ng remdesivir at iba pang investigational therapies para sa Covid-19,” according to health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.

[Translation: “We will wait for the results of the WHO Solidarity Trial before we change the recommendation on the use of remdesivir and other investigational therapies for Covid-19.”]

The solidarity trial is a multi-country clinical study for potential treatments for COVID-19. It aims to find a cure as quickly and accurately as possible.

As of posting, 100 countries have joined the trial. The Philippines’ participation was approved by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board last April 17.

WHO and participating countries will compare the effectiveness of several drugs used in COVID-19 treatment in different countries.

Four different drugs or combinations will be tested, including: remdesivir, lopinavir-ritonavir, lopinavir-ritonavir plus interferon beta and chloroquine.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/5/7/more-patients-who-trial-coronavirus.html