DOH does not recommend use of Carrimycin in treating COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — There is yet a scientific proof that Carrimycin, a China-developed drug, is effective in treating severe respiratory ailment COVID-19, and so the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said it is not recommending its use.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, a study on Carrimycin was scheduled in February at the US National Library of Medicine portal but results are still unavailable.

“Kagaya ng ibang investigational therapies para sa COVID-19, hindi nirerekomenda ng DOH ang mga gamot na ito para sa COVID-19 hangga’t wala pa tayong matibay at malawakang scientific evidence na ito ay ligtas at epektibo,” she said in an online press briefing.

(Like other investigational therapies for COVID-19, the DOH does not recommend the use of this drug against COVID-19 until we have a solid and broad scientific evidence that this is safe and effective.)

Vergeire then urged the public to just wait for the results of clinical trials launched to search for the cure against COVID-19, such as the Solidarity Trial by the World Health Organization.

The DOH official made these remarks after being asked to comment on Carrimycin, which Armed Forces chief Gen. Filemon Santos Jr. said might have healed him as he tested negative for the new coronavirus days after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

In a letter to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, Santos sought the envoy’s “assistance in the procurement of 5 boxes of Carrimycin tablets which is available only in China.”

Santos said he had taken the tablets with the clearance of his doctors.

“I believe that the said medicine helped in my recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and I intend to give the said drug to my close friends who have also been infected,” he wrote in his written communication using the letterhead of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.