THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday said clinical trials in the country for the anti-viral drug Avigan may begin anytime now as a clearance has been issued by the agency.
Avigan (favipiravir), made by Fuji Film Corp, is used to treat influenza in Japan. It is now being studied as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Clinical trials for Avigan are being conducted in Japan, China, United States, Italy, and Russia.
FDA director general Rolando Enrique Domingo said the agency issued the clearance for the clinical trial on July 9 “so they can start anytime.”
Aside from the FDA, the Avigan trial has also been approved by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board of the Department of Health which will supervise the clinical trial.
Venues for the clinical trials are Sta. Ana Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center.
The DOH has said at least 100 volunteer COVID-19 patients are being eyed for the trials.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there could be more participants.
“We are fortunate that the Japanese have reached out to us to help increase the sample size of their Avigan drug trial, a potential treatment to prevent people dying from COVID-19,” she said in a separate press briefing.