The Philippines will receive around 1,000 vials of the anti-viral drug, Remdesivir, for the solidarity trials conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the Department of Health (DOH), more than 1,000 Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with moderate to severe symptoms are currently enrolled in the said trial.
The patients are admitted in 24 hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR), Baguio, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao. Under the trial, the effectiveness of Remdesivir against COVID-19 will be tested. The signature of DOH Secretary Francsico Duque III is needed before starting the clinical trial of the drug in the country.
The health department has also released the list of the 34 potential vaccines that may be used in the WHO solidarity trials, 9 of which are in Phase 3.
Report from Mark Fetalco