PH resumes clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine after WHO recommendation

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6) — The Department of Health (DOH) said it was again including hydroxychloroquine in the so-called Solidarity Trial, a study testing different anti-coronavirus drugs and therapies, upon recommendation from the World Health Organization.

Speaking at the Laging Handa briefing Saturday, DOH Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the WHO issued a statement saying the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine can again be included in the Solidarity Trial following the results of new studies.

"On 3 June 2020, WHO's Director-General announced that on the basis of the available mortality data, the members of the committee have recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol," a statement on the WHO’s website said.

"Tayo naman dito sa Pilipinas, ‘nung tayo po ay binigyan ng advice na ganyan, ating itinigil yung mga newly allocated — ‘yung mga sa bago na ia-allocate pa lang. Pero ‘yung ating mga kababayan na on hydroxychloroquine ulit, hindi naman natin itinigil. So ngayon ang status natin ipinagpapatuloy na siya ulit, na kasama na siya ulit dun sa mga gamit na sinusubukan natin for this WHO Solidarity Trial," said Vergeire.

[Translation: Here in the Philippines, when we were given that advice, we stopped (giving it to) those who were newly allocated — those who will only start receiving it. But for those of our countrymen who were on hydroxycholoroquine, we never discontinued it. So the status now is to continue it, it will again be included among those being tested for this WHO Solidarity Trial.]

RELATED: PH halts clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine in new COVID-19 patients upon WHO’s advice

At least 150 Filipinos are taking part in the Solidarity Trial, a global effort to find a cure for the deadly viral illness by testing the drugs remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir with interferon beta-1a, and hydroxychloroquine on patients

The DOH announced on April 22 that the participation of the Philippines in the Solidarity Trial had been approved by the DOH's Single Joint Research Ethics Board.

The board reviews proposed studies to make sure they adhere to accepted ethical standards involving humans. The approval gives the green light for testing to be conducted in human volunteers.

Based on clinical trial protocols, patients included in the study must be at least 18 years old, be probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases, and have given their informed consent.