148 patients sign up WHO solidarity trial for COVID-19 treatment— Duque

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-seven more patients positive for the coronavirus will join the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Trial, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.

This brings the total number of patients who have agreed to join the mass trial to 148, compared to the previous figure of 81.

Meanwhile, 24 hospitals will be participating in the trial, Duque said during the Senate Committee of the Whole Hearing.

“Meron na po tayo napiling 24 na mga ospital, at meron na po tayong 148 na mga pasyente na pumirma na, nagpa-register na,” Duque said.

(We have picked 24 hospitals, and we have 148 patients who registered and signed.)

Among the drugs that will be used in the trial are hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, remdesivir, lopinavir, ritonavir, and interferon beta 1a, Duque said.

At least 100 countries have joined the trial, and the Philippines was given the go signal to join the activity by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board (SJREB), a unit organized by the Department of Health to conduct a harmonized review of health-related research protocols.

Currently, the Philippines has 12,942 confirmed cases, with 2,843 recoveries and 837 deaths.