Duque says PH may pursue trials on anti-Covid drug colchicine

MANILA, Philippines — The government may allow clinical trials for colchicine, a drug believed to be effective for treating Covid-19, Health Chief Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.

“Posibleng magkaroon ng trial ng gamot na ito [colchicine] na sinusunod ng bansang Canada, to be able to benefit from these unexpected, serendipitous effects of colchicine,” said Duque during a Taguig vaccination dry-run, when sought for comment about considering colchicine for treatment of the severe respiratory disease.

(There’s a possibility that this drug may have trials that are being followed by Canada, to be able to benefit from these unexpected, serendipitous effects of colchicine.)

In a statement on Jan. 23, the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) said it provided “clinically persuasive results of colchicine’s efficacy to treat COVID-19.” MHI said its study showed that the drug reduced by 21 percent the risk of death for Covid-19 patients.

But Duque said they will still study first the use of colchicine, which prevents the complications of Covid-19.

“Kinakailangan mag-antay pa tayo ng sapat na datos mula po sa mga bansang naglungsad na ng paggamit ng gamot na ito,” the health chief pointed out.

(We need to wait for ample data from the country that created this medicine.)

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