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DOST reaches Phase 2 clinical trial on candidate drug vs dengue

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has reached Phase 2 clinical trials for a possible medicine against dengue, one of the world&#x27;s leading mosquito-borne illnesses, the agency announced on Friday.</p><p>Science Sec. Fortunato Dela Peña said in a virtually aired DOST report that the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)’s Phase 2 clinical trial has at least 600 volunteers.</p><p>The project is expected to be finished within 10 months.</p><p>The 1st phase of the clinical trials, finished in 2020, showed that the formulation tested on 6 patients caused “minimal” and temporary side effects, according to PCHRD executive director, Dr. Jaime Montoya.</p><p>Some of the side effects, Montoya pointed out, included headaches, vomiting, and dizziness.</p><p>“Walang ibang major side effects po ang naitalaga o na-identify dahil sa pag-inom ng formulasyon na ito. Ngayong taon nakatakdang isagawa ang phase 2 clinical trial na may layong subukin ang safety and efficacy nitong dengue drug candidate sa higit kumulang na 600 volunteers,” he explained.</p><p>(There are no other major side effects identified when patients drank the formulation. We will do the phase 2 clinical trials this year to test the dengue drug candidate’s safety and efficacy on at least 600 volunteers.)</p><p>The phase 2 clinical trial, Montoya said, would investigate the medicine’s effectiveness, among others.</p><p>“Iimbestigahan… [ito] sa pamamagitan ng pagpapababa ng viral load o pagbawas ng viral leakage at pagpapabuti ng platelet formation… Ang phase 2 ay nakataktang isagawa sa Cavite at inaasahang matatapos sa loob ng 10 buwan,” he said.</p><p>(We will investigate this drug by lowering the viral load, reducing vial leakage, and improvement of platelet formation. The phase 2 is intended to be done in Cavite, which will be finished within 10 months.)</p><p>Montoya was confident that should the trials be successful this would be the first dengue medicine.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/19/20/what-are-clinical-trials-and-how-do-they-work">READ: What are clinical trials and how do they work?</a></li></ul><p>“Kapag naging matagumpay ang mga susunod na trials ang proyektong ito po ay makakagawa po ng kauna-unahang gamot laban sa dengue,” he said.</p><p>(If the trials become successful, we would be able to create the first drug against dengue.)</p><p>The Philippines in 2019 had an 81 percent drop in dengue cases compared with 2018, with only 79,219 cases and 306 deaths. Dela Peña, however, said dengue still remained a “health issue.”</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PgcZr2hkpnw?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The Philippines in 2016 became the first nation to use the world&#x27;s supposedly first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, in a mass immunization program.</p><p>In December 2017, the government recalled Dengvaxia, after its manufacturer, France&#x27;s Sanofi-Pasteur, said it could cause severe symptoms if given to those who have not had the mosquito-borne disease.</p><p>The vaccine recall triggered a public health scare, which resulted in a drop of vaccination rate in the Philippines.</p><div><strong>RELATED STORIES:</strong></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/09/10/19/what-is-dengue-and-why-is-it-so-widespread-this-year">What is dengue, and why is it so widespread this year?</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/08/07/19/doh-rejects-dengue-vaccine-as-outbreak-leaves-hundreds-dead">DOH rejects dengue vaccine as outbreak leaves hundreds dead</a></li></ul><p>Dengue infections have steadily climbed across the globe since the 1970s due to rising temperatures and irregular monsoon rains linked to climate change, which allow for ideal mosquito breeding conditions.</p><p>Dengue is mostly found in crowded areas, and breakneck urbanization across the globe has helped the virus thrive, especially in fast-growing mega-cities like Manila, Rio de Janeiro, Ho Chi Minh City and Tegucigalpa.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AQObs3vk3l0?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div><strong>Reports from Jasmine Romero, ABS-CBN News and Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Science Sec. Fortunato Dela Peña said the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s Phase 2 clinical trial has at least 600 volunteers.</p>

Science Sec. Fortunato Dela Peña said the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s Phase 2 clinical trial has at least 600 volunteers.