AstraZeneca eyes clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in PH

FILE PHOTO: Small bottles labelled with “Vaccine” stickers stand near a medical syringe in front of displayed “Coronavirus COVID-19” words in this illustration taken April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

MANILA, Philippines — British drug maker AstraZeneca has already submitted the necessary documents to Philippine health authorities to secure approval in conducting clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this Wednesday, just days after AstraZeneca announced that its COVID-19 vaccine can be 90% effective.

“They already submitted their documents to our Vaccine Experts Panel last November 16, during that time may kulang pa [they still have deficiencies],” Vergeire told reporters in an online media briefing.

“Immediately, last November 18, they were able to complete all the documentary requirements. So the evaluation of our vaccine experts panel and Ethics Review Board can now start,” she added.

Should AstraZeneca passed the panel’s initial evaluation, it will then secure the approval of the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines before it can proceed with its clinical trials here.

Philippine vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier bared that the country is in advance talks with the British firm to supply at least 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Galvez said the Philippine government could enter into an advance market agreement with AstraZeneca before the end of November.

China’s Sinovac Biotech is the first drug maker to get the Philippine panel’s green light. The panel is also evaluating the COVID-19 vaccines of Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary for late-stage trials.

JPV