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DOST chief confident in university's R&D vs. dengue

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

August 15, 2019, 8:09 pm

MANILA -- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said he is confident that the drug versus dengue currently being developed by a team of university researchers would be successful.

"I have high confidence on this R&D (research and development), and that it would pass the clinical trial," he said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

A team of researchers from the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, in partnership with a pharmaceutical company, is developing the drug.

They are using two herbal plants. One is "tawa-tawa" (Euphorbia hirta), which was proven to have anti-viral properties, according to dela Peña.

"Their hypothesis is that the other (plant) they used would fight the dengue virus," he said.

The DOST supported this R&D, he added.

Dela Pena said the researchers would apply for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, and also said the DOST would help them fast-track the process.

"They are on the Phase 1 of the clinical trial, to check if the drug has no bad effects," he said.

The DOST chief noted that the drug has to undergo the second and third phase of clinical trials.

"For the second phase, they would need a small sample, maybe more than 30 people with illness. The third phase requires a huge test, involving around 500 patients," he explained.

Meanwhile, dela Peña reiterated his desire to provide the Department of Health's regional hospitals with Biotek-M kit.

The development of this kit was funded by the DOST. It is used for early detection and management of dengue.

Biotek-M kit has the power of DNA/RNA-based accurate detection of the dengue virus and can be used in health centers and hospitals, according to DOST.

The DOST will give funding to the Biotek-M developer to produce units that will be distributed to DOH regional hospitals, dela Peña earlier confirmed.

"We also hope that our OL (ovicidal-larvicidal) trap could help," he added.

The DOST developed and launched the OL trap in 2011. It was designed to detect, monitor, and control the population of the dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The trap works by attracting female mosquitoes to lay eggs on a paddle drenched with an organic solution. This solution kills the eggs and larvae. (PNA)
 
 

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