PH Red Cross awaits FDA nod on ivermectin clinical trials

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is open to having its isolation facilities be used as sites for the clinical trials on the use of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin in COVID-19 treatment if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it will not harm patients, PRC Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon said Friday.

Gordon said researchers of the clinical trials have reached out to the PRC for the possible use of its facilities for the trials.

“Sabi ko I will consider it first. Papayag lang ako kapag sinabi ng FDA, sinabi ng let’s say mga informed scientists, ‘Sige i-test mo walang makakasama dyan’ at kung papayag ang tao,” Gordon said in an interview over Teleradyo.

(I told them I will consider it first. I will only agree if the FDA and scientists say it can be used as it poses no harm and if the patients give their consent.)

“I will wait for advice. I cannot decide because ang scientist ang nakakaalam, maraming laboratoryong kailangan, maraming karunungan na kailangan dyan na hindi malalaman ng isang abogadong katulad ko,” he added.

(I will wait for advice. I cannot decide because it’s the scientists who know, many laboratories and knowledge are needed that a lawyer like me will not know.)

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said the trials will focus on non-severe COVID-19 patients who are either asymptomatic or have mild to moderate symptoms.

The clinical trials may begin at the end of May until early June while the results may be out in early 2022, depending on the number of patients volunteering in the study.

While some doctors approve of ivermectin’s use against COVID-19, various medical groups also warned against prescribing it due to possible health risks.

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