Philippines begins Avigan clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment
MANILA (Kyodo)
The Philippine government said Tuesday
that it has begun clinical trials for Japanese anti-flu drug Avigan to see whether it would be effective in treating COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The trials
come as the Philippines is also conducting clinical trials for remdesivir, used in the treatment of Ebola, as well as interferon, an anti-viral agent, to treat COVID-19 patients.
The government
said earlier that 18 million pesos ($367,000) has been allotted for the Avigan trials, with at least three health care facilities eyed to administer the drugs to 80 to 100 people.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said last week that the Philippines had received around 199,000 Avigan tablets from Japan so the trials could begin.
Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato De La Pena
told a press conference on Tuesday that the clinical trials were ongoing.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines
breached the 100,000 mark on Sunday, making it the country with the second-most cases in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia.
As of Monday, the Philippines had recorded 106,333 cases, including 2,104 deaths.
The Mainichi
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200804/p2g/00m/0in/113000c
Japan delivers antiviral drug Avigan to PH for clinical trials –
Japan hopes
that this ongoing cooperation with the Philippines would further contribute to the advancement of clinical research to contain the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Japanese Embassy said.
Earlier reports indicated
that the Philippine government has allotted P18 million (approximately $367,000) for the Avigan trials to be conducted in at least three health care facilities.
Manila Bulletin
https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/07/japan-delivers-antiviral-drug-avigan-to-ph-for-clinical-trials/