Additional tocilizumab supply may arrive by November — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — An additional supply of COVID-19 investigational drug tocilizumab may arrive by the second week of November, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

“Itong tocilizumab ang medyo nagkaroon tayo ng problema and according sa manufacturer nila, sa supplier nila na kausap natin dito, baka by second week of November, magkaroon tayo ng stocks. So hihintayin natin ulit,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online media briefing.

(We had a problem with the supply of tocilizumab but according to their local supplier, there may be additional stocks by the second week of November. So let’s wait for that.)

She did not mention how many vials are expected to be delivered to the country.

In August, Vergeire also said that the government is facing challenges in sourcing the anti-inflammatory drug. She said that the DOH previously coordinated with suppliers of tocilizumab, which is used primarily for the treatment of rheumatoid and other forms of arthritis but has been repurposed to treat severe and critical COVID-19 cases.

During the shortage in supply, the DOH earlier considered the use of baricitinib as a substitute for tocilizumab.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said the country does not have a problem with the supply of remdesivir.

According to Vergeire, the DOH will soon issue an administrative order that will allow hospitals to procure COVID-19 investigational drugs that are already approved for emergency use in the country so they can immediately use them for their patients.

EDV