The clinical trial of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 may begin in the country in the last week of May or first week of June.
According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), around 1,200 COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms admitted in quarantine facilities in Metro Manila are expected to participate.
The trial will be conducted for six months and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“Based on a review of the Living CPG (Clinical Practice Guidelines) and the recommendation of the World Health Organization, these are the types of patients na insufficient ang evidence for benefit of ivermectin,” Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Executive Director Jaime Montoya said in a media briefing on April 29.
Dr. Marissa Alejandria, a fellow of Living CPG reviewers, said they will determine through the trial whether ivermectin prevents severe symptoms and hospitalization, and if it can speed up healing and viral clearance.
The trial will also compare the effect of using low-dose and high-dose ivermectin. The drug is currently under more than 70 trials abroad.
“Kaya ine-encourage talaga. More trials, kasi kung isang trial lang, that’s weak evidence unless it’s really a very big trial – thousands or hundreds of thousands – then yes, we can put our money on that trial,” Alejandria pointed out.
“Iba rin po siyempre ‘yung trial na mga Pilipino ang lumalahok para… talagang makikita natin [kung] paano ba talaga nagre-respond ang Pilipino sa ganyang gamot, at ano ba ‘yung side effects na nakikita,” Montoya said.
Meanwhile, experts have proposed to avoid using antiviral drug remdesivir for patients with 95% or higher oxygen saturation.
“As far as evidence is concerned, we are seeing that there is a group of patients that will benefit from remdesivir but not for all types of patients,” Alejandria said. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-jlo
Watch this report from Mark Fetalco for more details:
