The Department of Health (DOH) is hoping to start with the clinical trial on Avigan, an antiviral medicine, by the second or third week of July.
In a virtual media forum, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Avigan trial is another clinical trial on the possible treatment of patients infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“We’re just waiting for the (Congress) ethics committee clearance for this Avigan trial protocol and then, we’ll go through the regulatory clearance of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and, hopefully, pagdating ng July sana mga second or third week of July makakapag-umpisa na tayo ng (when the second or third week of July comes we can start with the) Avigan trial,” Vergeire added.
On May 6, Vergeire said the Japanese government would be providing enough supply of Avigan for some 100 patients who will be chosen for the trial.
As for the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trial on medicines for possible Covid-19 treatment, Vergeire said the DOH has stopped the use of hydroxychloroquine per WHO’s directive.
“Mayroong na lang pong tatlong gamot na natitira na ginagamit (We’re only using three drugs) and we have 330 patients currently enrolled among our 21 of the 26 participating hospitals that we have,” she added.
The three other drugs used in the trial are Remdesivir, Lopinavir, or Ritonavir, and Lopinavir or Ritonavir with Interferon beta-1a. (PNA)
