MANILA – Lumalakad na ang pag-aaral ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) para malaman ang bisa ng sleeping drug na melatonin sa mga pasyente ng COVID-19.
Ayon kay DOST Sec. Fortunato de la Peña, partikular na kasali sa clinical trial ang mga COVID-19 patients na may pneumonia.
“The project is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial which aims to determine the effectiveness or efficacy and safety (of melatonin) as adjuvant therapy on top of standard or empirical therapy.”
Ang Manila Doctors Hospital ang nagpapatupad ng pag-aaral, na pinapangasiwaan ng Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).
Sa ngayon mayroon na raw 61 participants mula sa target na 350 volunteers.
Bukod sa Manila Doctors Hospital, may 16 iba pang ospital na kasali sa pag-aaral. Pero 12 pa lang ang nakakapag-umpisa ng recruitment.
“That will tell determine whether it improves the survival, lessening of the need of intubation, and mechanical ventilation, clinical improvement and recovery.”
Kabilang sa mga ospital na clinical trial sites ng melatonin ay ang:
- Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Center (Tala Sanitarium)
- The Medical City
- San Lazaro Hospital
- Lung Center of the Philippines
- San Juan de Dios Hospital
- Cardinal Santos Medical Center
- Philippine Heart Center
- Makati Medical Center
- East Avenue Medical Center
- Manila Medical Center
- Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital
Mula sa 61 participants, 14 ang mula sa Tala Sanitarium, 13 sa Manila Doctors Hospital, 7 sa The Medical City, at 10 sa San Lazaro Hospital.
Habang 2 ang mula sa Philippine Heart Center, 8 sa Makati Medical Center, 5 sa Manila Medical Center, at 2 sa San Juan de Dios Hospital.
“Initial analysis will be done once 50% of the target participants have been reached,” ayon sa DOST chief.
