Health Secretary Francisco Duque announced last May 20 that the Philippines has been invited to join Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm’s global clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine.
(Malacañang: Life cannot return to normal until there is a COVID-19 vaccine or cure)
“We have a letter from China, from Sinopharm, China’s biggest pharmaceutical company, which offered to include us in its global clinical trial for their newly-developed vaccine,” Duque said at the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing.
“Meron na pong sulat sa atin ang China… nag-alok na isama tayo sa kanilang global clinical trial for their newly developed vaccine,” Duque continued.
He added: “Meron na po silang na-develop na vaccine e, pero ito po ay kinakailangang sumailalim sa mga clinical trials para masiguro po ang safety and efficacy.”
As of May 23, the Inter-Agency Task Force approved the recommendation by the Department of Science and Technology for the Philippines to participate in clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the offer from Sinopharm has not yet been accepted by the Philippine government.
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