'WALANG FEEDBACK'

Sinopharm reached out to DOH as early as May 2020, says vaccine distributor

Chinese firm Sinopharm has reached out to the Department of Health (DOH) as early as May 2020 for the conduct of human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines but it did not get a feedback, the vaccine's distributor claimed Friday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, two representatives of MKG Universal Drugs Trading Corporation — identified only as Juan and Jose for security reasons —confirmed a letter dated May 2020 presented by broadcast journalist Arnold Clavio indicating Sinopharm's intention to conduct clinical trials in the Philippines.

The MKG representatives claimed had the DOH acted on this, the Philippines would have a Sinopharm vaccine by now.

“Mauuna talaga dapat ang Pilipinas because of our good relationship with China, pero walang feedback [ang DOH]. Na-receive ‘yan, May 28, Office of the Secretary,” Jose said.

“Dapat po talaga mauuna ang Pilipinas. Sa tagal ng inintay na mga dokumento galing sa DOH, medyo na-disappoint [ang Sinopharm], dinivert nila sa UAE, iyon ang binigyan nila ng priority sa clinical trials,” he added.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB later in the day, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said he is not aware of any letter from Sinopharm.

"Wala akong alam, ang alam ko na nakapag-submit ng request for clinical trial, ang alam ko 'yung Janssen, yung iba pino-proseso pa," he said.

Juan said that their company has been engaged with  Sinopharm since mid-March or April of last year.

According to the MKG representatives, Sinopharm’s clinical trials in the UAE  were done in July to September and turned in good results.

“The clinical trial in UAE was very successful. 86% ang efficacy rate, done on 60,000 volunteers,” Juan said.

“Maganda talaga mag-clinical trial roon kasi andun lahat ng lahi, mga 125 nations [ang represented],” Jose added.

This is the second time the DOH has been accused of sitting on documents which are crucial in securing the country’s COVID-19 vaccine supply.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin, Jr. and Senator Panfilo Lacson last month said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III failed to sign the documents on time which would have given the Philippines access to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine — which has been proven 95% after human trials — by January 2021.

Duque has denied this, saying that his office acted promptly on the confidentiality data agreement with Pfizer and such deal does not include vaccine supply. —KBK, GMA News