No need for PH trials for ivermectin — DoST

THE Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council on Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) said that there was no need to hold additional clinical trials for the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country.

The DoST statement comes after numerous groups have called on the government to consider the use of the drug as a prophylaxis or as treatment for Covid-19. 

In a statement, the DoST said with almost 20 completed and 40 ongoing clinical trials of the drug according to the the clinicaltrials.gov website of the United States National Library of Medicine, there was no need for an additional clinical trial in the country.

It added that it was more appropriate “to await the results of these studies that are already significantly advanced in terms of data collection and conducting interim analyses”.

In a previous briefing, the Department of Health (DoH) said that it was open to using the drug for Covid-19 provided that its proponents hold a proper clinical trial in the country.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a compassionate special permit on the use of ivermectin to an undisclosed hospital.