Kinulang sa pasyenteng sasailalim sa clinical trial ng virgin coconut oil bilang agent laban sa virus ng COVID-19 ang Department of Science and Technology (DOST), higit isang buwan mula nang magsimulang lumakad ang inisyatibo.
Ayon kay Science Sec. Fortunato dela Pena, kinailangang makipag-partner ng kanilang kagawaran sa dalawang treatment facilities para maabot ang target ng 90 patients sa nasabing trial.
“The arrival of patients is relatively slow and so we cannot still meet the 90 recommended number of patients to be enrolled.”
“What we did was to include two other hospitals or centers who have patients. Fortunately, (The) Medical City has set up just two weeks ago a facility in Sta. Rosa, and they agreed that they will participate. And also the quarantine center of Sta. Rosa will also be a source of patients.”
Umaasa ang DOST na madadagdan pa ang bilang ng mga pasyenteng sasali sa clinical trial, kasunod ng pag-apruba ng UP Manila Ethics Board sa pagsali ng Philippine General Hospital.
“The period of giving the VCO in PGH is only 14 days, to test whether it has good effect on patient. They (PGH) are planning for 100 patients (to undergo clinical trial).”
“Half will be on VCO, half will be not be given the VCO. For comparison purposes.”
Bukod sa naturang langis, inihahanda na rin daw ng DOST ang trials sa ilang produkto.
“We are trying some natural products that can be therapeutics or can speed up the recoveries of our COVID-19 patients. We have started already the formulations that will be tested initially invitro for our tawa-tawa and lagundi, which has been known cure for other viral related diseases.”
Nakipag-partner din umano ang ahensya sa ilang institusyon sa China at Taiwan para naman sa vaccine trials.
