MANILA, Philippines — Results of clinical trials on anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as treatment for COVID-19 may be out by the first quarter of 2022, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) official said Monday.
“Maaari po yung clinical trial ay matapos bago matapos ang taon pero pag-aaralan pa po syempre yung mga datos at yung resulta ng naturang pag-aaral,” said DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development chief Jaime Montoya said in a televised briefing.
(The clinical trials may be finished before the end of this year but of course, we need to study the data and results of the research.)
“So nakikita po namin ay, ito ay malamang kasama na po yung resulta at analysis ay lalabas po ng first quarter next year, mga January,” he added.
(So perhaps, the results and analysis will be out in the first quarter of next year, maybe in January.)
If many COVID-positive patients volunteer to join the trials, Montoya said the length of the study may be shortened.
Montoya previously said the clinical trials may begin by the end of May or early June.
Participants of the trials will be non-severe COVID-19 cases who are staying in quarantine facilities, Montoya said.
“Ang isasama po sa ating pag-aaral ay yung tinatawag na non-severe. Ito po yung mild to moderate cases, symptomatic cases pati po asymptomatic yung wala pong nararamdaman na karaniwan pong nakikita sa mga quarantine facility,” Montoya said.
(Those who will be included in the study are non-severe cases, those who are mild to moderate cases, symptomatic cases, and asymptomatic cases, those we usually see in the quarantine facilities.)
The use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 recently sparked debate among medical practitioners. Currently, it is only commercially available in the Philippines for veterinary or animal use.
The Food and Drug Administration, however, has so far granted compassionate special permits to five hospitals for the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients.
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