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FILE PHOTO: Small vials labeled with “Vaccine” stickers are placed near a medical syringe in front of the words “Coronavirus COVID-19” shown in this illustration taken on April 10, 2020. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration
MANILA, Philippines – British drug manufacturer AstraZeneca has already submitted the necessary documents to the Philippine health authorities to obtain approval to conduct clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the country.
The Undersecretary of Health, María Rosario Vergeire, said this Wednesday, a few days after AstraZeneca announced that its COVID-19 vaccine can be 90% effective.
“They already sent their documents to our Vaccine Expert Panel on November 16, during that time you can kulang pa [they still have deficiencies]”Vergeire told reporters at an online press conference.
“Immediately, on November 18, they were able to complete all the documentary requirements. So the evaluation of our panel of vaccine experts and the Ethics Review Board can now begin, ”he added.
If AstraZeneca passes the initial panel evaluation, then it will get approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration before it can continue its clinical trials here.
The secretary of the Philippine Vaccine Czar Carlito Gálvez Jr. previously revealed that the country is in early talks with the British firm to supply at least 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.
Gálvez said the Philippine government could sign an advance market agreement with AstraZeneca before the end of November.
Sinovac Biotech of China is the first drug manufacturer to get the green light from the Philippine panel. The panel is also evaluating COVID-19 vaccines from Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary for late-stage trials.
JPV
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