‘I will fight them in court’: Defensor says if FDA stops ivermectin distribution

A health worker shows a box containing a bottle of Ivermectin, a medicine authorized by the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA) to treat patients with mild, asymptomatic or suspicious COVID-19, as part of a study of the Center for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Studies, in Cali, Colombia, on July 21, 2020. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor said Wednesday he will “fight” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in court should they stop his distribution of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin in Quezon City.

Defensor insisted that his planned distribution of ivermectin, together with House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, is legally compliant.

“I will fight them in court. If they will again stop this initiative, I will fight them in court. Because legally, compliant kami (we are compliant),” Defensor said in a press briefing when asked if he is willing to halt the ivermectin distribution should it be questioned.

According to Defensor, they will distribute forms to those who want to receive ivermectin. These forms will then be given to doctors for their prescription and then sent to the licensed compounding laboratory.

Defensor said that it was the FDA itself that said that licensed compounding pharmacies and laboratories are allowed to compound ivermectin as long as there is a doctor’s prescription for a specific patient or user.

“On two occasions during the hearings, sinabi nila na ito ay pupwedeng proseso, kung ito muli ay ihihinto nila na ang mga tao, yung mga mahihirap lalo’t higit ay hindi mabigyan, I will fight them in court. Masyado na,” Defensor said.

(On two occasions during the hearings, they have said that this process is allowed. If they will stop this again and those who need it will not be given the drug, I will fight them in court.)

Asked about the legality of  Defensor and Marcoleta’s ivermectin distribution, FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said Tuesday: “As long as they have doctors who will check the patients and prescribe medicines that will be dispensed properly.”

However, on Wednesday, DOH Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said that only hospitals with compassionate special permits (CSP) can prescribe the drugs to humans since there is no registered ivermectin drug for human use in the country.

Defensor and Marcoleta are set to launch the event “Ivermectin Pan-three” in Old Balara in Quezon City wherein each beneficiary will get a minimum of three capsules or tablets of the drug free of charge.

/MUF