Sinopharm yet to decide on COVID vaccine clinical trial in PH — DOST

MADE IN CHINA The Beijing Institute of Biological Products claims the Sinopharm vaccine is 79 percent effective. —REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm has yet to decide whether or not it will pursue clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Friday.

“Sa ngayon po ay wala pa silang final decision kung sila ba ay magcoconduct ng clinical trial or sila ay mag-aapply lang ng EUA or emergency (use) authorization,” DOST Assistant Secretary Leah Buendia said in a televised Laging Handa Public Briefing.

(Currently, Sinopharm has yet t0 decide if it will condict a clinical trial here or just apply for an EUA).

Buendia bared that they have not received any data from Sinopharm but noted a confidentiality disclosure agreement (CDA) with the company has already been signed.

Sinopharm applied for late-stage trials in the Philippines but later changed its mind and backed out from its initial plan.

Last week, DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña bared that Sinopharm wants the Philippines to shoulder its clinical trials here.

The DOST responded, saying that it can only fund the trials under the World Health Organization’s solidarity trial. Sinopharm never responded to its reply, the DOST said.

Sinopharm’s vaccine, which was approved by China’s regulators for general public use, reportedly has 79% efficacy rate.

gsg