The Department of Health has allocated P22 million for the clinical trials of the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin to determine its efficacy for treatment of Covid-19 patients.
However, the actual study will be managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which was instructed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to determine the efficacy, safety and effect of Ivermectin for Covid-19.
During the public address of President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday evening, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña disclosed the 8-month study will start next month.
Dela Peña said the period may be shortened if more people will volunteer for the study.
“The project team is coordinating with the Philippine Red Cross through the office of Senator Richard Gordon to utilize the isolation facilities of the Philippine Red Cross,” Dela Peña.
The project will be led by Dr. Aileen Wang of the University of the Philippines and the Philippine General Hospital and will make use of a “double-blind, randomized controlled trial”.
It is expected to cover 1,200 adult Covid-19 patients, who are asymptomatic or have mild or moderate symptoms.
Dela Peña said they made the said specifications since most Covid-19 patients, have no or only mild symptoms.
Aside from Ivermectin, the DOST also conducted clinical trials for the use of the use of herbal plants Tawa-Tawa and Lagundi, virigin coconut oil, melatonin, and convalescent plasma for Covid-19 treatment.
Image courtesy of Bernard Testa
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