DOH resumes anti-malaria drug trial for COVID

MANILA, Philippines — Despite safety concerns raised by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as possible treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Philippines is set to resume trials on the drug.

“We will include again hydroxychloroquine in our treatment program (for the Solidarity Trial) because this is in accordance with the opinion of experts of the WHO,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a virtual press briefing yesterday.

“We will adhere to them so we will continue using this investigational drug,” Vergeire added.

Due to safety concerns, the WHO temporarily halted the trial of hydroxychloroquine, but lifted the suspension after review of available data.

Following WHO’s decision, Vergeire said the DOH will again include hydroxychloroquine in the trial.

Vergeire reported that there are now 200 COVID patients in the country participating in the WHO-initiated solidarity trial to find a cure for COVID.

Four investigational drugs – remdesivir; antimalarial drug chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine; antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV Lopinavir with Ritonavir; and Lopinavir with Ritonavir plus Interferon beta-1a-are included in the trial.

“Out of 24 participating hospitals, 20 of them already have active recruitment of patients to be included in this trial. Overall, we already have a total of 220 patients enrolled,” Vergeire disclosed.

She said strict criteria caused the delay in the selection for the 500 slots for Filipino COVID patients participating in the solidarity trial.

“Since we are using investigational drugs, it has its own adverse reactions to patients. So we need to extensively talk to them and their relatives in order for us to get their informed consent, which is necessary for them to be enrolled,” Vergeire explained.

Among the stringent qualifications and criteria for solidarity trial participants are those not younger than 18 years with no pre-existing conditions.

“We have a list of criteria and not everyone who wants to join can join if they do not meet these criteria,” the health official pointed out.

Aside from the solidarity trial, DOH is also supporting the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)’s ongoing trial to test the efficacy of virgin coconut oil, tawa-tawa and lagundi as potential cure for COVID.

“Of course, we will support this so that we can determine if we can use this in our community,” Vergeire said, adding the DOH is ready to provide technical assistance to the DOST.

A Filipino-American with roots in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan helped develop the very promising drug remdesivir, one of the promising drugs now under clinical trials to treat COVID-19 patients. Delon Porcalla