DOST won't conduct trials for ivermectin, will wait for test results from abroad

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Friday said that it would not conduct clinical trials for ivermectin in the Philippines because there already are a number of ongoing trials around the world.

In a statement, the DOST said that clinical trial projects could last for a minimum of six months to several years.

“As most ongoing clinical trials have already been implemented since 2020, it would be appropriate to await the results of these studies that are already significantly advanced in terms of data collection and conducting interim analyses,” the DOST said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a hospital’s application for "compassionate use" of the anti-parasitic drug on humans with COVID-19.

Still, the FDA later said that the distribution of ivermectin as part of treatment was still prohibited.

The World Health Organization has said that ivermectin should only be used within clinical trials to determine if it was effective against COVID-19. --NB, GMA News