By John Clifford Lintao
JAPAN’s anti-influenza drug Avigan has commenced testing in the Philippines for its effectivity against COVID-19, says Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire.
“For Avigan trial, nag-umpisa tayo noong November 20 and we already have 8 participants,” Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing.
Avigan, the Japanese brand for favipiravir, previously showed promising results in treating COVID-19 vaccines. Tablets were sent to the Philippines by Japan for clinical trial purposes, but the trials were repeatedly delayed in view of inadequate documentary requirements.
As of this posting there are already patients enrolled at the Philippine General Hospital, another three at Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (formerly Tala Leprosarium), and two at Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Another participating medical facility, Sta. Ana Hospital, has yet to recruit new patients.
The proponent of the study has imposed less stringent criteria to include more patients. The sample size of the study increased from 96 to 144.
Those who can join the study are COVID-19 patients with non-severe pneumonia and not on “high flow oxygen support.”
Vergeire says they hope that the hospitals will reach the target sample size soon to complete the trial.
The cumulative total of recorded COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 421,722 on Tuesday, Nov. 25, of which, 6.3 percent or 26,745 are active infections. Total recoveries stood at 386,792, and the death toll, 8,185.