China-manufactured tocilizumab to arrive this week —FDA

The Philippines will receive the tocilizumab manufactured by Chinese firm Livzon this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Tuesday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said the country has approved two equivalent products of tocilizumab, which has been in short supply.

“Meron na tayo ngayong na-approve na dalawang equivalent na product. Meron pong ‘yung tenziba. Tapos itong week na ito dahil merong darating galing naman sa China na tocilizumab na Livzon,” Domingo said.

(We approved two equivalent products. There’s tenziba. And then, this week, the tocilizumab made by Livzon from China will be arriving.)

“Hopefully, luluwag na kaunti ang supply nito,” he added.

On Monday, Domingo said the tocilizumab manufactured by Lizvon has been granted approval for use in the country.

Domingo said the FDA also approved baricitinib brands Barinicix and Barinez.

“Anti-inflammatory din siya. Para siyang tocilizumab. Binibigay din. Meron na rin tayong na-approve nito na tatlong brand nito na maaring magamit ng ating mga doctor,” he said.

(They are also anti-inflammatory. They’re like tocilizumab. They are also given. We have approved three brands that can be used by doctors,” he said.

Meanwhile, he again urged the public to refrain from buying tocilizumab online, saying the FDA, along with other agencies, has arrested scammers.

“’Yung kumpanya na mismo ang nagsabi na lahat ng binebenta rito ay fake dahil wala po talaga silang mina-manufacture. Hindi po talaga tayo dapat kumapit sa patalim dahil maaari po talaga mapahamak pa,” Domingo said.

(The company itself said that everything sold here is fake because they are not manufacturing. Let’s not go to such desperate measures because it might lead to more danger.)

“Kung ‘yung ospital hindi makakuha ng totoong gamot, ano naman po ‘yung posibilidad na sa kanto-kanto makakabili tayo ng totoong gamot?” he added.

(If the hospitals are not able to get legitimate medicine, what are the chances that we can get legitimate medicine in the streets?) —KG, GMA News