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Philippines Thanks Japan for Free Avigan Supply for COVID-19 Research


MANILA/TOKYO – The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for its plan to provide the antiviral drug Avigan to the Philippines at no cost for clinical trials on its efficacy as a potential treatment for the new coronavirus.

“Nais po natin magpasalamat sa bansang Japan sapagkat sila ay nag-express na sila ay handa tayong bigyan ng libreng supply ng anti-flu drug na Avigan,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a virtual presser Tuesday.

“Ang gamot na ito ay nagpapakita ng pag-asa sa panlaban natin sa COVID-19 at tayo ay agarang magkakaroon ng clinical trials upang masiguro na ang nasabing gamot [Avigan] ay epektibo at ligtas para sa mga Pilipino,” she added.

Vergaire pointed out that the clinical studies that will be conducted by the DOH “ay sapagkat tayo ay hindi pa ganap na nakakasiguro sa mga benepisyo ng nasabing gamot. Ngunit ganunpaman, patuloy nating gagalugarin ang pagkakataon na ito.”

She also cautioned against the use of the Japan-developed drug on expecting mothers as studies have shown that it may result in birth defects.

“Nais din po naming hilingan sa mga nagsasagawa ng trials at sa publiko na lubos na mag-ingat sa paggamit ng Avigan sapagkat ayon sa datos, ito ay hindi ligtas gamitin ng mga buntis,” she said.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said he hopes to see the use of Avigan, also known as favipiravir, for COVID-19 patients in the country within this month.

The Japanese leader had an exchange with President Rodrigo Duterte regarding Avigan during the virtual ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19 last April 14. - Florenda Corpuz

(File photo taken on May 31, 2019 at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Japan)

(Photo credit: Richard Madelo/Presidential Photo)