THE Department of Health yesterday said the applications of Sinovac, Gamaleya, and Clover to conduct clinical trials of their COVID-19 vaccines in the country are still being processed as they have yet to complete the requirements.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire disclosed that the drug manufacturers need to complete documents needed for their application.
“We have Sinovac, meron ho tayong Gamaleya, at meron pa ho tayong isa ‘yung Clover na kailangan pa rin hong makakumpleto ng kanilang dokumento,” she said.
Vergeire said only Janssen received approval to conduct clinical trial for its COVID-19 vaccines in the country so far.
She added that the Vaccine Expert Panel has assigned five sites in the country for the conduct of Janssen’s clinical trial and will identify these sites in the next few days.
“Wala pa hong binibigay ‘yung Vaccine Expert Panel natin na assignment ng mga sasali dito sa trial na ‘to. But at the sites, meron na ho silang nabanggit. Meron na ho tayong lima na assigned sites for this Janssen. Ito po ay ibibigay nila in the coming days,” she said.
On December 29, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Phase 3 clinical trial application of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in the country.
FDA Director General Eric Domingo said Janssen’s clinical trials in the Philippines will be beneficial to Filipinos in terms of speeding up regulatory approval if the vaccine turns out to be effective.
Aside from these, other potential vaccine products under the World Health Organization Solidarity Trial are also expected to undergo clinical trials in the Philippines.
In December, Department of Science and Technology’s VEP council chairperson and member of the WHO scientific steering committee Dr. Nina Gloriani said the solidarity trial is expected to start this month.
