DOH: 220 patients so far enrolled in WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Trial

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 220 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have so far joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Trial, which seeks to find a cure for the severe respiratory disease.

This is 36 more patients from the last report of the Department of Health (DOH), Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Thursday.

Twenty-three of 24 identified hospitals for the study were so far approved by the International Ethics Committee, of which 20 are already actively recruiting patients to participate in the trial.

At least 100 countries have joined the WHO study and the Philippines and 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.

The trial for the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine was suspended over concerns about the drug’s adverse effects on the heart.

However, the Philippines will continue to enroll patients for its clinical trial after WHO advised the resumption of the study.

READ: Following WHO advice, Philippines resumes hydroxychloroquine trials

Hydroxychloroquine was approved for the treatment of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and for preventing and treating malaria.

/MUF