Medical experts are still seeking a cure to help those with COVID-19 and to contain its spread. More than 45 countries, including the Philippines, have further acknowledged the importance of this and joined forces with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Through a global “solidarity trial,” WHO will spearhead the study of several countries on possible treatments for COVID-19, which has already infected more than 750,000 globally.

Other countries joining the study include Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.

According to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Disease’s Dr. Marissa Alejandrija will represent the country in the study.

Moreover, DOH undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire will serve as the department’s official liaison in the trial.

“Tayo po ay sasali sa solidarity trial na ginagawa ng WHO para sa COVID-19. Ito ay isang malawakang pag-aaral kasama ang iba’t ibang bansa para makahanap ng lunas para sa COVID-19,” Duque said in a virtual press briefing.

The clinical trial will test four different drugs or combinations, specifically the antiviral remdesivir as well as chloroquine, a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. A combination of two drugs used to help control HIV infection called lopinavir and ritonavir as well as the same two drugs together with interferon beta, which is used to treat multiple sclerosis, will also be part of the trials.

Medical experts will then compare their effectiveness to the “standard of care—the regular support hospitals treating COVID-19 patients use now.”

With the first batch of patients already enrolled in the program, countries all over the world are hoping for a solution to the pandemic to roll out soon.

Header photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

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