THE Department of Health on Wednesday said vaccines being developed for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will likely still be on the trial stage by January 2021.
Currently, there are at least 70 vaccines for COVID-19 under development around the world, with only eight having reached the clinical trial stages.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said all vaccines for COVID-19 will unlikely be for commercial use by early next year. She issued the statement when asked President Duterte’s statement Tuesday night about a vaccine that will supposedly be “ready” by January 2021 “at the earliest.”
“The one mentioned by President Duterte (that will be ready) by January 2021 are the vaccines that will be used in the Solidarity Trial of the World Health Organization (WHO) by that time, where the country has also expressed its intent to participate,” said Vergeire.
She said all vaccines being developed by different pharmaceutical companies will still have to reach Stage II-B or III of clinical trials of their candidate vaccine product before they are tapped for the WHO Solidarity Trial.
“As of now, we are still waiting for the vaccines that will reach Stage II-B or III of their clinical trials, which is the required stage of the WHO, before we can start with the WHO Solidarity Trial for vaccines,” she explained.
Vergeire also said three medical facilities in the Philippines have been tapped to host the clinical trial of the Japanese flu drug, Avigan.
Vergeire said these are the Philippine General Hospital, Sta. Ana Hospital, and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.
“As of May 11, three sites have been identified for the conduct of this trial in the Philippines,” said Vergeire.
She related that the DOH is already coordinating with Japan for the delivery of Avigan or favipiravir.
The protocol, she added, is undergoing review and approval by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board.
“Once the trial has been registered with the Food and Drug Administration, and the medications are delivered, the Avigan trial may start in the country,” said Vergeire.
Japan has started using Avigan to treat COVID-19 patients, with no less than Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushing for it to be part of treatment guidelines.
There has been a slight setback, however, on the Avigan trial after Kyodo news on Tuesday reported that so far there has been no clear evidence of efficacy for Avigan in treating the novel coronavirus in some clinical trials.
President Duterte on Tuesday night said he is prepared to borrow, if needed, to be able to procure vaccines for COVID-19, once these become available in the market.
The President, in a televised address, said he is looking for fund sources to purchase vaccines. He said tests being conducted by biotech company Moderna is is yielding positive results. Duterte said if the positive developments continue, these may lead to the commercial manufacturing of the vaccine by January 2021.
Moderna Inc.’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine, which produces protective antibodies in a small group of healthy volunteers, is now being tested in the United States. The tests are showing positive results. Moderna began testing its vaccine on 45 healthy adults last March.
“Kailangan may pera ako niyan kasi bili kaagad tayo… ewan ko kung saan tayo magkuha pa. Madali na siguro. Basta may vaccine na, puwede na tayong makahiram (I need money so we can buy immediately… I don’t know where we would get it. But that would probably be easy. Once there is already a vaccine, maybe we can borrow),” he said.
