DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday, October 9, 2020, said proponents of the clinical trials for the use of Japanes flu drug Avigan as experimental treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may now start recruiting volunteers.
"We already gave the go signal to the proponents. They are now going to start recruiting participants for the trial," Vergeire in a virtual press briefing.
"Once recruitment is completed, Next week, hopefully, we can officially start already," she added.
She said there remains one legal issue that they were ironing out.
"We are just lacking (approval) on the insurance. There was a minor comment by our legal services regarding the insurance document," Vergeire said.
Japan sent Avigan tablets good for for 100 patients in early August.
DOH has identified the sites for the clinical trials in the country as the Philippine General Hospital, Sta. Ana Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Quirino Memorial Medical Center. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)