A sub-technical working group led by the Department of Science and Technology is gearing up for COVID-19 phase 3 clinical trials, which are set to begin in November.
All applications for clinical trials to be conducted in the country will be submitted to the sub-technical working group, and will be reviewed by the vaccine expert panel and the ethics review committees.
After a thorough review of the clinical
trial applications, these will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for a final pass. The vaccine trials may begin after the FDA’s regulatory review and approval.
2,502 new COVID-19 cases logged
The Philippines logged on Sunday 2,502 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total to 339,341, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
The DOH reported 17,057 recoveries, bringing the total number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to 293,075.
There were 83 new deaths reported Sunday, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to 6,321.
This left 39,945 active cases, 83 percent of which are mild; 11.2 percent of which are asymptomatic; 1.8 percent of which are severe; and 3.9 percent of which are critical.
House seeks Sputnik V update
Bulacan's San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes on Sunday said the House committee on people participation will again tackle on Monday the latest development on the clinical studies on Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine for COVID-19.
She said the meeting is the continuation of the first meeting conducted in September with the Russian Embassy on the vaccine’s development.
“Since the Philippines is one of countries that is currently studying the vaccine, we want to be given updates on its trials to give our people the information and to help to facilitate cooperation between the two countries to ensure its availability in the country if the tests go well at the earliest possible time,” Robes said.
Robes has invited representatives from the Department of Health, and Department of Science and Technology to provide information about the status of Sputnik V’s phase 3 clinical trials. Rio N. Araja
Access to virtual hearings approved
The Supreme Court has allowed the public to access and watch the virtual trial proceedings for both criminal and civil cases in the first and second level courts.
In a memorandum circular dated October 9, 2020, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said the public can now join the videoconferencing hearings for both criminal and civil cases, a mechanism which was initially limited to the participation of the judge, court staff, parties, their lawyers and witnesses.
The circular allows the public to participate in the videoconferencing hearings of cases in accordance with existing circulars and guidelines.
“To further comply with the constitutional right of the accused to a public trial, and to resemble or mirror more, as far as practicable, the in-court proceedings, all videoconferencing hearings conducted by first and second level courts may be accessible to the public,” Marquez said.
Those who want to attend a videoconferencing hearing are required to send an email to the concerned court at least three days before the scheduled hearing through its Philippine Judiciary Office 365 email address.