Palace gives FDA sole authority to deal with 'illegal' ivermectin

President Rodrigo Duterte has given the Food and Drug Administration the sole authority to go after illegal traders of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin amid push from some sectors to use the drug on COVID-19 patients, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“To ensure the safety and welfare of the public and at the same time avoid any unnecessary conflicts, the FDA has been directed to take the lead in determining the course of action against the illegal trading/dispensing of Ivermectin,” Roque said in a statement.

“The Philippine National Police (PNP) cannot arbitrarily determine on their own which drug/s should not be in the market. All operations to apprehend or seize goods must be done in coordination with the FDA,” said Roque, who is a lawyer like the President.

Roque further clarified that what the FDA has been ordered to stop is the sale/trade of Ivermectin for veterinary use that has been repackaged as human grade, including those that have not been determined by competent authorities as safe to be used on humans.

“Having said this, we advise the public to seek the advice of medical practitioners before taking medicines and/or supplements,” Roque added.

Ivermectin, an investigational drug for COVID-19, is not registered for human use in the Philippines.

However, the FDA has already granted two hospitals compassionate use permit (CSP) for humans.

But the CSP only allows legal administration of the drug in the country and is not a stamp of safety and efficacy from the FDA.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the conduct of clinical trial of ivermectin in the Philippines for human use, pending clear evidence that the drug could help in treating COVID-19 patients.

Domingo also said that pending results of clinical trial of ivermectin on humans, hospitals can apply for compassionate use permit since it is an investigational COVID-19 drug. —LBG, GMA News