MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen more patients of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) join the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Trial which searches for a possible cure for the respiratory disease.
The country now has 55 patients spread out in 10 hospitals in Metro Manila who are participating in the trial, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday.
“Now is the 16th day of the trial kung saan mayroon na po tayong 55 na patients na enrolled sa 10 hospitals dito sa National Capital Region,” she told reporters in an online press conference.
(Now is the 16th day of the trial and we have 55 patients enrolled in 10 hospitals in the National Capital Region.)
At least 100 countries have joined the trial and the Philippines was approved to participate in the activity by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board last April 17.
The study will test the effectiveness of possible treatments for COVID-19. WHO and participating countries will compare the effectiveness of several drugs used in COVID-19 treatment in different countries.
Four different drugs or combinations will be tested, including remdesivir, lopinavir-ritonavir, lopinavir-ritonavir plus interferon beta, and chloroquine.