QMMC calls on unvaccinated close contacts of COVID-19 cases to join molnupiravir trial

The Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) in Quezon City on Saturday called for participants who are unvaccinated close contacts of COVID-19 patients to join the third phase of the global study to determine the effects of anti-COVID-19 medication molnupiravir.

Dr. Joel Santiaguel, clinical investigator of the QMMC, said the third phase of the clinical trials has stricter requirements, which includes having exposure to only one member of the household who is a COVID-19 patient.

“Katulad ng ibang clinical trials, medyo mahigpit ang requirement na ito. Kasama na nga ang hindi puwede magsali kung nabakunahan na ang isang pasyente. Bukod doon, kung ang pasyente ay positive na o kung masyadong marami sa bahay 'yung positive para sa COVID-19, hindi puwede isali. Medyo strict eh or very stringent sila sa mga requirements,” Santiaguel said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(Like other clinical trials, the requirements are quite strict. Those who have been vaccinated [against COVID-19] cannot participate. Aside from that, if a patient is already positive for COVID-19, or if there are too many COVID-19 positive companions in the household, they will not be included. It is very stringent in requirements.)

Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral drug shown to prevent mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 from progressing into severe disease that needs hospitalization.

During the clinical trials, molnupiravir, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 50% when given as a five-day treatment regimen in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Santiaguel said the target population of the global study is at least 1,300 patients.

He said the target participants in the Philippines will include at least 30 patients from the QMMC and Asian Hospital.

“Hindi lang sa naunang indication na sa mga confirmed na kaso. Ngayon tinitingnan at pinag-aaralan natin kung ito ay magiging mabisa upang ma-prevent ang pagkakaroon ng COVID doon sa nagkaroon ng exposure o mga close contacts,” Santiaguel said.

(It is not only for those with previous indication of confirmed cases [of COVID-19]. We are now looking and studying whether it will be effective to prevent the presence of COVID in those who have had exposure or are close contacts.)

“Kung meron po kayong kakilala na hindi pa nabakunahan at kasama sa bahay ang isang taong may confirmed na COVID-19 na bago pa lang within five days pa lang ng pagkakaroon ng COVID-19 noong index case, maaari niyo kaming kontakin o i-message sa numero 0917-841-3314,” he added.

(If you know someone who has not been vaccinated and had a companion in the household with confirmed COVID-19, and it has only been five days since the index case had COVID-19, you may contact us or message us at the number 0917-841-3314.)

Earlier, Britain became the first country to approve the pill to treat patients suffering from mild to moderate coronavirus, regulators said.

The European Medicines Agency said it had started a review of molnupiravir, raising hopes for an easy-to-administer treatment to reduce serious or deadly cases.

The move, which could eventually lead to authorization on the European market, comes two weeks after Merck applied for emergency use in the US of the anti-COVID drug. —KG, GMA News