MANILA, Philippines — After authorities noted the difficulty in enrolling participants for the clinical trial of Japanese antiflu drug Avigan, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday that the recruitment protocol for the much-delayed study in the Philippines has been eased to enlist more patients.
According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the study so far has only eight participants to test Avigan’s effectiveness in treating the disease.
READ: DOH notes low turnout in Avigan clinical tests
Vergeire said the revised protocol, which has already been approved, would allow non-severe COVID-19 patients, those with or without pneumonia, and those not on high-flow oxygen support to participate in the clinical tests.
“From 96 participants, it has been expanded to 144 kaya hopefully we can already reach iyong sinasabing number of samples needed to complete this clinical trial,” Vergeire told reporters in an online briefing.
The trial was initially scheduled to start in mid-July but was delayed as legal arrangements were finalized.
The Japanese government delivered in early August enough supply of the tablets for 100 patients who would participate in the clinical tests.