Philippines will produce its own ivermectin formula –DOST exec

A team from the Department of Science and Technology has decided to produce the Philippines' own ivermectin dose so that the country need not buy the regular formula for the controversial anti-parasitic drug that some sectors are pushing for COVID-19 cure.

"Ito ang nadesisyunan ng team, yung ivermectin capsule ay sa University of the Philippines (UP) Manila College of Pharmacy gagawin, hindi na kami bibili ng regular na formula kasi gusto namin may sarili kaming dosage," DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevarra told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday. 

[The ivermectin formula will be done at the UP-Manila College of Pharmacy in the team's desire to make our own dosage of the medicine.]

Guevarra said that the study team's decision came after the delay in the international clinical trial on ivermectin due to some revisions in the trial protocols.

According to Guevarra, the international study on ivermectin, of which the Philippines is a participant, aims to assess the medicine's efficacy, safety, and its effect on the viral clearance of asymptomatic, and non-severe COVID-19 cases in isolation facilities.

But the project team has undergone protocol revision. She explained that the Philippine team is part of international ivermectin consortia led by the University of Liverpool in England.

"So dun sa ivermectin consortia, mayroon silang changes na ginawa so kailangan namin ipa-approve sa (that we need to get approval from the) Food and Drug Administration," she said.

But the Philippines has been ready for the trial.

"[The] clinical trial management system has been established with the UP Diliman College of Engineering; [the] study sites in the National Capital Region --Ateneo, De La Salle, UP Diliman, and the Makati Science High School  quarantine facilities," she said.

"Also, magre-recruit sa (we will recruit from) Region 2 and Region 11. The target of patient recruitment is within October. And Preliminary result is expected by end-December," she said.

Moreover, she noted that only patients in isolation facilities are targeted for the trials --COVID-19 cases with comorbidities are excluded. —LBG, GMA News