The World Health Organization initiated efforts to conduct the SOLIDARITY trial, in partnership with several countries and healthcare practitioners in the world, including the Philippines. The trial aims to provide evidence for treatment modalities for COVID-19. The trial is still on going.
Since COVID-19 is a new disease, recommendations and evidence are dynamic.
Cure
As for the medications to treat COVID-19, we have several in the works, the first being Remdesivir. The US Food and Drug Administration cleared the drug for emergency administration. This allowed hospitals in the United States to give Remdesivir to patients. Research showed that patients with COVID-19 who require oxygen support who received Remdesivir recovered faster than those who received placebo drugs.
In the Philippines, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were used during the early months of the pandemic. However, current studies state that they do not greatly improve outcomes, and use should be with great caution as it can have side effects involving the heart and may even lead to death if not properly monitored.
Favipiravir by FujiFilm Holdings Corp. in Japan is another promising drug. Currently sold as Avigan, the medication helps clear the virus one week earlier than the anti-HIV drug created by AbbVie Inc, as shown in initial studies. Additionally, reports say that Avigan helps improve the chest symptoms experienced due to COVID-19.
Finally, there is also convalescent plasma. Plasma is the liquid component of the blood where antibodies can be found. Medical experts believe that by taking plasma from recovered patients (whose blood contains antibodies against COVID-19) and transfusing it into the blood of those afflicted can help patients recover faster.
Local guidelines
The local guidelines made by expert societies for COVID-19 in the Philippines, pending the results of the ongoing WHO Solidarity Trial recommend the following:
- Remdesivir may be considered in the setting of a clinical trial for hospitalized adult patients with severe COVID-19 or for compassionate use.
- Chloroquine (CQ) or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is not recommended for hospitalized patients with COVID19 pneumonia.
- There is still insufficient evidence to recommend routine use of favipiravir and Convalescent plasma (for critically ill cases) except in the context of a clinical trial or for compassionate use. Recommendations will be updated once more evidence is available.
What are the developments in finding the cure and vaccine for COVID-19 in the Philippines?
The Philippines has taken the steps to break the chain of infection, as well as to find the cure and vaccine for COVID-19.
The Department of Health continually asks for recovered patients to donate their plasma to help other patients fight the infection. The government has also allocated at least P18 million for the clinical trials of Avigan, one of the potential treatments for the coronavirus disease. Lastly, the Philippines joined the World Health Organization’s Solidarity Trial to find and test possible treatments for the coronavirus disease. More than 100 countries have joined the trial with over 1,000 participants.
Key takeaway
The cure and vaccine for COVID-19 may or may not be available within the year. For this reason, it is very important to strictly follow the guidelines set by the WHO. The public is encouraged to continue practicing regular handwashing and physical distancing. In addition, strengthen your immune system.
Learn more about COVID-19 here.
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