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Three companies that develop a vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) want to conduct independent clinical trials in the country.
The Executive Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DoST-PCHRD), Jaime Montoya, said that the Gamaleya Research Institute of Russia, Janssen Pharmaceutica of the medical giant Johnson & Johnson and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. of China have submitted plans for phase three clinical trials in the Philippines.
During a news conference Thursday, Montoya said that other vaccine manufacturers can conduct independent trials as long as they submit their applications to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Last September, DoST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said Gamaleya and Sinovac were among the six vaccine manufacturers that signed data confidentiality agreements with the Philippine government.
The country’s panel of vaccine experts is also awaiting Gamaleya’s clinical trial protocol for evaluation.
Montoya said the Philippine government is prioritizing the Vaccine Solidarity Trial being organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the global Covax initiative led by the Gavi Vaccine Alliance and the Center for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
He said the Philippines is among more than 100 countries that have shown interest in joining the solidarity trials.
Montoya said the trials will begin in late October and the results can be released in December.
The WHO is still discussing the vaccines to be included in its trial, he added.
The initial supply of the vaccine in the country can be expected by the second quarter of 2021, assuming all FDA requirements are met.
The Philippines registered 2,363 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 331,869.
Recoveries from the disease amount to 274,318, with a death toll reaching 6,069.
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