288 patients enrolled for WHO trials for COVID cure

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 288 coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 patients have enrolled in the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trials, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The number is more than half of the 500 target set by the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.

Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña yesterday said the global target for the trials is about 5,000 patients.

Getting more participants in the WHO trials is aimed at speeding up the search for a COVID-19 cure, Dela Peña said.

“We believe it’s faster (if there is) bigger test participants or population. It will shorten the clinical trials,” he said.

The distribution of the subjects for four treatment regimens for clinical trials is 88 for local standard of care; 66 for hydroxychloroquine; 75, lopinavir-ritonavir; and 59, remdesivir.

The Department of Health (DOH) is spearheading the Philippines’ participation in the trials.

On May 18, President Duterte said the DOH set aside P18 million for the clinical trials of Japanese anti-influenza drug Avigan as a potential COVID treatment.

He said at least 24 hospitals would participate in the WHO trials.