New drugs need FDA approval, DOH says amid reported rollout of 'antibody medicine' vs. COVID-19

All newly developed drugs, including those for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), shall be approved by the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to the Department of Health on Tuesday.

"Kung anuman hong mga bagong klaseng gamot naman po, dumadaan po tayo sa Food and Drug Administration," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

"Kailangan pag-aralan maigi para masasabi nating safe at saka walang magiging pangit na outcome para sa ating mga kababayan," she added.

DOH made this comment after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that a giant pharmaceutical company is ready to roll out an "antibody medicine" for COVID-19.

"Mayroon nang medisina, antibody, ang isang giant pharmaceutical pero hindi galing sa tao. Sabi by May, they would start to market it," Duterte said in a televised address on early Tuesday.

However, he said the Philippines is "on the last ladder."

"Ang problema sabi nga, we are on the last ladder. Ang mauna niyan 'yung mga mayayaman," Duterte said.

Further, Duterte said that if the medicine is made available, then he will lift the enhanced community quarantine in the Luzon region which has been extended to April 30.

Vergeire has earlier said that a vaccine against COVID-19 could be developed and rolled out in a matter of six to 18 months. --KBK, GMA News