By Teddy Cambosa
The Department of Science of Technology (DOST) in the Philippines has reaffirmed its position against the use of ivermectin against COVID-19.
In a press statement, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña noted that according to recent data from US’s National Library Medicine’s ClinicalTrials.gov, there are almost 20 completed and 40 ongoing clinical trials around the world exploring the use of Ivermectin.
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication that is used to heartworm and ascariasis among animals.
Furthermore, DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) is of the position that there is no need to conduct another clinical trial in the Philippines.
“Experts in the scientific and medical field have already spoken. In the case of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), our most common involvement is the development of diagnostic kits, disease models, drugs and adjunctive therapies which include clinical trials,” de la Peña stated.
The use of ivermectin in the Philippines has been fire under lately after opposing positions held by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that distribution of ivermectin as COVID-19 medication is deemed ‘illegal’, yet has sought approval for use among private hospitals as an ‘investigational product’.
Teddy Cambosa is a graduating BS Biology student and a former campus journalist at Batangas State University. He is also currently writing for MARKETECH APAC, a small APAC-focused marketing news site.
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What a load of rubbish… The USA FDA has announced that it has not undertaken any research on the use of Ivermectin but only that it is before them.
Ivermectin has not yet been researched by the USA FDA because they know it works but their financial investment has been made in vaccines.