A study to test COVID-19 drug Molnupiravir is set to be conducted in the Philippines by the second week of November.
The drug was developed by pharmaceutical company Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics in the United States and Canada.
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President of the Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), Dr. Beaver Tamesis, said the COVID-19 patients’ household members and other close contacts will be included in the clinical trial.
Tamesis said that the Philippines is among the countries that took part in the worldwide initial clinical trial for Molnupiravir. A total of 27 volunteers have participated in the trial.
In the country, four hospitals have been given a compassionate special permit (CSP) for Molnupiravir.
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Earlier, the subjects under the Molnupiravir group were given the pill for 5 days and monitored at home for a month and an interim analysis showed a 50% reduction in the death rate.
Tamesis said a treatment course is estimated to last for 5 days with the patient given 800mg of Molnupiravir per day and to maximize its effect in COVID-19 patients the drug should also be given during the early stage of infection. (AW)
