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FDA to lawmaker: Distribution of unregistered drugs against the law

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/04/06/20210406-domingo-defensor.jpg"/><figcaption>Food and Drug Authority director general Eric Domingo and Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor. <em>ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE)</strong> - The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday the distribution of unregistered products is against the law.</p><p>FDA director general Eric Domingo made the remark following Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor&#x27;s plan to distribute anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin to COVID-19 patients and the elderly in Quezon City.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/05/21/defensor-giving-away-veterinary-drug-ivermectin-to-covid-19-patients-despite-fda-warnings">Defensor giving away veterinary drug Ivermectin vs COVID-19 despite FDA warnings</a></li></ul><p>The drug is currently registered for use against worm infestations and parasites in animals.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/28/21/ivermectin-for-humans-must-be-registered-with-fda-before-use-official">Ivermectin for humans must be registered with FDA before use: official</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/05/21/fda-receives-application-for-covid-19-patients-use-of-veterinary-drug">FDA receives application for COVID-19 patients&#x27; use of veterinary drug</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Kung unregistered po kasi bawal po talaga iyon o unauthorized. &#x27;Di ko po alam baka meron silang compounding pharmacy na kausap na magrereseta at gagawin,&quot; Domingo told ABS-CBN&#x27;s Teleradyo.</p><p>(If it&#x27;s unregistered its distribution is prohibited or unauthorized. I don&#x27;t know if they have a compounding pharmacy that will give prescription and make this drug.)</p><p>&quot;Siguro alam naman po nila ano ang batas. Hintayin natin ang detalye. Meron naman pong pamamaraan na puwede pero pag unauthorized po hindi po talaga.&quot;</p><p>(They know the law. Let&#x27;s wait for details. There&#x27;s a way it can be distributed but if it&#x27;s unauthorized it&#x27;s really prohibited.)</p><p>The World Health Organization (WHO), European Medicines Agency, and the US FDA have all warned against the use of Ivermectin against COVID-19.</p><p>Ivermectin manufacturer Merck said there was no scientific basis showing that the anti-parasite drug is effective against COVID-19.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1654812" width="100%"></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><strong>&#x27;ONE OF THE SAFEST DRUGS,&#x27; SAYS LAWMAKER</strong><br/>Defensor, who has contracted and recovered from COVID-19, said he has coordinated with a compounding laboratory and that he would give away Ivermectin for free for those with prescription.</p><p>&quot;I’m not doing anything outside of the law...Ako hanggang ngayon umiinom and I’m okay. (Former) Senator (Juan Ponce) Enrile drank it in public and he’s okay,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.</p><p>(I still drink it and I&#x27;m okay.)</p><p>Ivermectin is &quot;one of the safest drugs in the world,&quot; Defensor claimed as he asked the FDA to allow more laboratories to make the drug for those with prescription.</p><p>&quot;I’m not imposing it on anyone. I have access and I can help them if they believe in Ivermectin,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;I hope we can be more proactive in this campaign. Kasi ito ay P35 lang. Kung maraming matutulungan dito, maraming masasalba na buhay, malaking bagay para sa Pilipino.&quot;</p><p>(This costs only P35. If it can help many people and save many lives, it would be a big deal for Filipinos.)</p><p>Those who avail of Ivermectin will be required to give their consent, Defensor said.</p><p>&quot;Before you&#x27;re allowed to take it, may consent yung tao...it is an informed consent parang medical practice naman yan talaga,&quot; he told reporters when asked who will take responsibility for any side effects arising from the use of Ivermectin.</p><p>(Before you&#x27;re allowed to take it, the person should consent...it is an informed consent, it&#x27;s medical practice.)</p><p>&quot;What I&#x27;m providing basically is an access...at ito naman ay di ko pinagbabayad, libre ko ito tinutulong sa ating mga kababayan. So what I&#x27;m doing now is within the process and within the parameters na ginawa ng (of) FDA at (and) DOH (Department of Health).&quot;</p><p>(I&#x27;m not doing this for a price, I&#x27;m helping people for free.)</p><p>The FDA again warned the public against buying drugs online that have not been approved by the agency and were not recommended by the DOH.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/05/21/who-strong-clinical-trials-needed-to-prove-if-ivermectin-effective-against-covid-19">WHO: ‘Strong clinical trials’ needed to prove if Ivermectin effective against COVID-19</a></li></ul><p>&quot;&#x27;Wag po tayong bibili ng &#x27;di rehistrado na gamot dahil di po natin alam kung ano ang laman niyan,&quot; Domingo said.</p><p>(Do not buy unregistered drugs because we don&#x27;t know what it contains.)</p><div><strong>--With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1654790" width="100%"></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 Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday the distribution of unregistered products is against the law.</p>

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday the distribution of unregistered products is against the law.