DOST relied on data in evaluating Sinovac amid firm’s alleged bribery history

Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said Thursday the agency depended on the data provided by Chinese firm Sinovac in evaluating the potential COVID-19 vaccine product.

De la Peña made the statement when asked if the  bribery allegation would affect the procurement of Sinovac vaccines in the country.

“Kami ang ginagawa lang namin 'yung evaluation ng clinical trial results,” De la Peña said in a public briefing, pointing out that another team is handling the procurement of the vaccines.

“As far as the evaluation, we relied on the data that were submitted to us,” he added.

De la Peña said the evaluation will be one of the bases of the Food and Drug Administration in giving Sinovac approval to conduct clinical trials for its vaccine in the country.

Sinovac, which is looking to supply the Philippines with COVID-19 vaccine, already secured the approval of the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) under the DOST.

Washington Post earlier reported that Sinovac’s founder and chief executive Yin Weidong in a 2016 court testimony admitted to bribing regulatory authorities in China to the tune of $83,000 from 2002 to 2011 to fast track the approval of its vaccines.

On Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Philippine regulators will validate the reports.

“Hindi naman natin masabi kung questionable ba ang pinanggalingan ng ganitong balita, but we will investigate, validate, if this is true. If true, it is up for the VEP to include this in their report,” he said.—AOL, GMA News