DOH: Gov't still ironing out deal for Sputnik V clinical trials in Philippines

The Philippine government is still hammering out an agreement with Russia to get hold of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trial results of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Friday.

"Yung sa Russia, we are still having this confidentiality disclosure agreement," Vergeire said in an online forum.

"We are still trying to accomplish this legal document that is needed for us to be able to obtain or be granted with this request for these documents on their Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials," she added.

Results of the first two phases of Sputnik V's clinical trials will be carefully reviewed by the Philippines' vaccine experts panel before Phase 3 could start, according to Vergeire.

Likewise, she said negotiations with different manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines are in various stages.

"But definitely we would want as soon as possible na makapag-umpisa," she said, noting that the conduct of local clinical trials is very important.

"Para po kasi sa bakuna, kailangan naita-try mo 'yan sa different races kasi iba-iba po ang epekto, based on experience and scientific studies, sa iba't ibang races ng iba't ibang bakuna," she added.

Sputnik V will likely be available for commercial use in the Philippines by April 2021, according to Philippine Council for Health Research executive director Dr. Jaime Montoya as Russia's FDA is seen to approve it this coming January.

For now, Russia plans enlisting 10,000 individuals in four countries —UAE, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and the Philippines—for the Phase 3 of the clinical trials for Sputnik V. Around 1,000 Filipinos are expected to join.

Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte could be injected with the Russian-made vaccine as early as May 2021. —LBG, GMA News