Speed up Ivermectin trials: solon

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) must fast-track the clinical trials on the use of the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin as a treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), a party-list lawmaker said on Friday.

Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said Ivermectin will provide a cheaper alternative for poor Covid-19 patients, who cannot afford the expensive Remdesivir and Tocilizumab medicines.

Remdesivir and Tocilizumab are approved for use in the Philippines in severe Covid-19 cases.

Defensor noted that the original price of Remdesivir ranged from PHP1,950 to PHP6,200 a vial.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said data from clinical trials are necessary to determine whether Ivermectin is safe and effective in treating or preventing Covid-19.

“Lives are at stake here. We could save many lives with the use of this popular PHP35-per-tablet experimental drug. The results of the trials ordered by President Duterte should be available soon,” Defensor said in a statement.

“The poor can afford a P35 drug. In the case of its two other rivals, they cost thousands, if one can find them in the market.”

Defensor said that while the World Health Organization (WHO) does not encourage the use of Ivermectin, it also recommended against the use of Remdesivir.

“Can the DOH and FDA allow the use of Ivermectin? Yes, they can, if they want to. In fact, the FDA is allowing it on a patient-to-patient basis. Why not permit its use on a wider scale so it would be available to more patients, especially the poor,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the DOST, DOH, and FDA to hold local clinical trials for the use of Ivermectin.

Dr. Aileen Wang of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital was tasked to spearhead the trials.

Duterte also continues to monitor developments concerning Ivermectin, even directing the Presidential Management Staff to give him weekly updates on Ivermectin studies and FDA-related clearance.

The FDA recently granted a compassionate special permit (CSP) to three undisclosed hospitals for Ivermectin use on Covid-19 patients amid pressure from some doctors and private groups advocating its use.

Prior to the grant of the CSP, Ivermectin products were used for certain animal species to treat internal and external parasites as well as prevention of heartworm disease.

“The current evidence on the use of ivermectin to treat Covid-19 patients is inconclusive. Until more data is available, WHO recommends that the drug only be used within clinical trials,” the agency statement of March 31, 2021 read.