Duterte ordered clinical trial of ivermectin in Philippines -FDA chief

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the conduct of a clinical trial of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin in the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said Tuesday.

“Si Presidente, inutusan niya ang DOH and DOST na aralin ito (The President ordered the government agencies to conduct clinical trials on ivermectin),” Domingo said during the Laging Handa briefing when asked on the need to conduct of clinical trial on ivermectin in the country.

DOH is the Department of Health, while DOST is  the Department of Science and Technology.

“Gobyerno po ito, si Presidente po mismo ang nag-utos kasi kulang pa nga po ang ebidensiya na nakakatulong ang ivermectin sa COVID-19 patients,” he added.

(This clinical trial will be done by the government. The President tasked us to do this since there is not enough evidence yet that ivermectin can help COVID-19 patients.)

Prior to the President’s orders, the DOST said there was no need to conduct clinical trial of ivermectin in the Philippines since there are already hundreds of similar clinical trials being conducted abroad.

The Philippine FDA already issued a compassionate use permit for ivermectin to two hospitals, but the permit only allows legal administration of the drug in the country and not a guarantee of safety and efficacy.

“Investigational drugs for COVID-19 like ivermectin are allowed to seek compassionate use permit,” Domingo pointed out.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. later confirmed Domingo’s statement during the Palace briefing.

“Nais malaman ng President kung may basehan na epektibo ang gamot na ito (The President wants to know if there is a basis to say that this drug is effective),” Roque said.

“Bakit hindi natin gamitin kung mapapatunayan na ligtas at epektibo itong ivermectin? (Why would we refrain from using ivermectin if this will be proven safe and effective),” Roque added. -MDM, GMA News