THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the clinical trials for herbal medicine “lagundi” as treatment for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said Saturday, August 29.
Dela Peña said the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) will lead the clinical trials for lagundi.
“Iyon pong sa lagundi, ang good news po ay naaprubahan na ng FDA ang clinical trials. So ito lang early this week po naaprubahan, so hopefully, hindi ko pa natsi-check ngayong araw na ito -- ay nagsimula na, at ito ay sa PGH gagawin,” he said.
He said lagundi may help ease Covid-19 symptoms like cough and sore throat.
“Gaya nga ng nasabi ko noong una, ang hangad natin diyan ay ma-address iyong mga symptoms katulad ng ubo, lagnat at iyang mga sore throat kasi malaking bagay kung giginhawa ang ating pasyente na mild cases diyan sa mga symptoms na iyan,” Dela Peña said.
(Our aim is to address the Covid-19 symptoms like cough, fever and sore throat, because it would be a big help if those with mild symptoms will feel better.)
“Titignan din natin kung ano ba ang probability na sila ay bababa ba iyong probability na magpo-progress sila into moderate and severe cases kung bibigyan iyang mga gamot na iyan -- lagundi,” he added.
(We will also see whether those with mild symptoms will recover or progress to moderate and severe cases when given lagundi.)
He said around 200 Covid-19 patients will join the clinical trials.
Identified participants are patients with mild symptoms and admitted at the Quezon Institute quarantine center, Sta. Ana Hospital, and Philippine National Police-National Capital Region community quarantine center.
Dela Pena assured that the volunteers’ health conditions are being checked before they are allowed to join the trials.
“Inaasahan ko naman na iyong mga affected o iyong mga may mga symptoms ay marami diyan palagay ko ay magbo-volunteer (I am hoping that those with symptoms will volunteer),” he said.
“Ang importante lang kasi po, iyong mga magbo-volunteer, tsini-check din iyong kanilang overall physical condition (What's important is the overall physical condition of those who will volunteer will be checked),” he added. (Jove Moya/SunStar Philippines)