President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) to study the effectiveness of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin against Covid-19, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This was revealed by FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo, who said the research design and other parameters of the study were now being discussed so that the study could begin immediately. While the DoST has maintained that there are numerous studies on ivermectin across the globe, according to Domingo, the President felt that a local study would be helpful in seeing its effectiveness among Filipinos. Domingo added that the agency was willing to wait for results of the trials to see if it does work against Covid-19 virus. “It will be very useful especially if it is a very well-designed study by the DoST that will be very helpful in the future,” he said.

Source: Manila Times April 20, 2021 16:30 UTC