Top researcher-physician to lead Ivermectin clinical trial – DOST

After saying that a clinical trial in the country on the use of Ivermectin as a possible treatment for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is no longer necessary, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said a clinical trial for the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin will proceed in the Philippines.

In a meeting with President Duterte, DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said he and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III agreed to push through with the clinical trial which will be funded by the Department of Health (DOH). .

“Nung Sabado nagkaroon kami ng kasunduan na hahanap na ng eksperto na magsasagawa ng clinical trial. Ngayon nga po yung ididistribute ko na one-page briefer nagsasaad dito kung sino ang puwede mag-lead nung clinical trial sa Ivermectin na ikukumpara dun sa ibang standard of care, (Last Saturday, we have agreed that we will look for an expert who will conduct the clinical trial. Now I will distribute a one-page briefer to show who can lead the clinical trial on Ivermectin that will be compared from other standard of care),” de la Peña said.

He said the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila- Philippine General Hospital (PGH) was being eyed to conduct the trial with Dr. Aileen Wang as its lead person. In 2019, Wang was chosen as the Most Outstanding Researcher of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians.

The clinical trial will require a minimum of six months. If more volunteers will participate, the trial can be expedited.

“Ang plano po dito ay yung mga quarantine centers na malapit sa PGH ang magsasagawa nito. Meron na rin pong inallocate na pondo ang DOH para dito sa clinical trial na yan, (The plan is for quarantine centers near the PGH to conduct the trial which will be funded by the DOH),” de la Peña said.

“Hopefully po, pag natapos ang trial na yan mas magkaroon tayo ng reliable estimates ng epekto ng Ivermectin bilang isang anti-viral agent na makapagreduce po ng virus shedding sa mga mild at moderate patients at makikita natin ng epekto ng Ivermectin dun sa haba ng hospitalization ng iba (Hopeful, when this trial has been completed, we will have more reliable estimates on the effect of Ivermectin as an antiviral agent that can reduce virus shedding among mild and moderate patients and we will likewise see the effect of Ivermectin on the length of hospitalization),” he added.

There are about 20 completed and 40 ongoing clinical trials around the world exploring the use of Ivermectin formulations against COVID-19.