The House Committee on Health is set to conduct a congressional inquiry into the decision of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to disallow the use of an anti-parasitic drug called Ivermectin for prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections.
The panel will tackle House Resolution No. 1684 filed by 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Enrico Pineda, seeking an explanation from the FDA regarding its decision to prevent the use of Ivermectin despite its potential and promise as a drug treatment for the virus in other countries.
It also urged Congress to enact regulations that will ensure the FDA and the Department of Health (DOH) to consider all possible cures for COVID-19.
“The Committee on Health will hold a virtual public hearing on Tuesday because we want to know what causes the skyrocketing spike in cases, we want to know the status of the government’s contact tracing efforts, and we want to know what treatments are available out there so we can save as many patients as possible from this deadly disease,” Committee on Health Chair Angelina Tan said.
Pineda said there are actual studies and publications endorsing the effectiveness of Ivermectin as treatment for those infected with COVID-19.
“Ivermectin is found to reduce the effects of COVID-19 on infected patients when used with vitamins and supplements.”
Citing clinical trials conducted in many countries, the legislator said Ivermectin was found to reduce the effects of COVID-19 on infected patients when used with vitamins and supplements.
“While we understand the prudence being exercised by the FDA, this is quite an unprecedented international health emergency,” Pineda said.
“Perhaps we should do more exhaustive studies before dismissing what could potentially be a life-saving drug,” the lawmaker stressed.
The legislator said Ivermectin is also considered cost-effective compared to other repurposed anti-viral drugs, such as Remdesivir, which costs P28,000 per vial and must be administered twice daily until such time that the patient is discharged.
“Ivermectin costs only around P35, to be administered once daily for three days — totaling to just a little over P100,” he noted.
“22% of the world, including India, South Africa, and Latin American countries, is already utilizing it as COVID-19 treatment and prevention.”
Pineda said Ivermectin has shown so much potential and 22 percent of the world, including India, South Africa and Latin American countries, is already utilizing it as COVID-19 treatment and prevention.
Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor also filed a resolution regarding the possible use of Ivermectin against COVID-19.
Defensor said the DOH and FDA should consider giving enough leeway for medical practitioners to try other investigational drugs which would have enough evidence to support their use, such as Ivermectin, especially in the context of a massive surge in COVID-19 cases.
“Another investigational drug which we should study allowing in the fight against COVID-19 is Ivermectin,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker stressed the drug is in the World Health Organization’s and Philippine National Formulary’s list of essential medicine.