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DOST-PCHRD supports study on convalescent plasma transfusion as possible therapy to prevent disease progression among hospitalized COVID-19 patients

As COVID-19 continues to be a public health burden with the lack of existing vaccines, the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) with support from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) will conduct the project: “Convalescent Plasma as Adjunctive Therapy for Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19.”

Adjunctive therapy is a treatment used to support the main or primary treatment of diseases. As definite therapy for COVID-19 is still lacking, the project aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma transfusion as adjunctive therapy to prevent disease progression among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is taken from the blood of patients who recovered from infection and contains neutralizing antibodies against it.

According to Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Program of the World Health Organization (WHO), the use of convalescent plasma transfusion is a valid approach in treating infectious diseases as demonstrated in previous outbreaks such as the H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, 2003 SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, and the 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic. In a press conference in Geneva last February, he explained that through the transfusion, “you're giving (the patients) a boost of antibodies to hopefully get them through the very difficult phase.”

“For the past months, we have been mobilizing our resources and maximizing our capacities to help combat COVID-19. Through this project, we are hoping to provide supportive treatment to COVID-19 patients to avoid worst-case scenarios,” DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Jaime C. Montoya says. “If the project proves to be successful, we can also contribute to developing a treatment that will help reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19,” he adds.

Aside from potentially developing locally-produced convalescent plasma which may be used as part of the COVID-19 treatment regime, the project also aims to strengthen the capacities of healthcare professionals in its clinical use, not only for COVID-19, but also for other emerging infections in the future.

The team has started the call for blood donations from COVID-19 survivors last April 2020. The project will run for 12 months.

References:

Source: http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6568-dost-pchrd-supports-study-on-convalescent-plasma-transfusion-as-possible-therapy-to-prevent-disease-progression-among-hospitalized-covid-19-patients

DOST-PCHRD, MDH to test use of melatonin against COVID-19-induced Pneumonia

Noting how the severity of COVID-19 cases appear to significantly increase once pneumonia sets in, the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH), with support from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) will conduct the project: “Melatonin as Adjuvant treatment for COVID-19 in Patients Requiring hospitalization (MAC19 PRO): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (RCT).”

Known as a commonly available and inexpensive sleep-aid supplement, melatonin is also known for its anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and immune-enhancing effects which may help alleviate acute respiratory distress caused by viral infections such as COVID-19.

To support the current efforts against the pandemic, the study seeks to probe whether administering high doses of melatonin (hdM) will lessen the need for intubation or ventilation support of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and ultimately improve the survival rate against the infection. The study will be the first RCT worldwide which will explore the effectiveness and safety of using hdM as adjuvant therapy on top of standard therapy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Adjuvant therapy is used in addition to primary or main treatment of diseases. Examples of adjuvant therapy are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, among others.

“We are aiming to build on the use of melatonin as a commonly available supplement to support our fight against COVID-19,” DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Jaime Montoya says. “If the project proves to be successful, we may be able to de-escalate COVID-19 cases better, and possibly reduce the mortality rate of the infection.”

The pilot study done for the project has also been accepted for publication in the Melatonin Research Journal, which observed that patients given with hdM showed faster clinical improvement. The article will be released next month.

With support from DOST-PCHRD, the project will run for four months in selected hospitals in Metro Manila and Cebu City.

As the world continues to race to find a vaccine or a cure against COVID-19, hospitals across countries currently anchor the effective management of the infection on supportive and empirical treatments. In the situation report published May 2020, WHO highlights that almost 86.7% of cases recorded in the Philippines are mild. Despite the low mortality rate, there are cases that lead to respiratory failure, septic shock, or even death especially for identified high-risk groups or the immunocompromised.

References:

Source: http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6565-dost-pchrd-mdh-to-test-use-of-melatonin-against-covid-19-induced-pneumonia

Witten by: Jwynne Gwyneth Macan

GCARSIH Call for Applications

Call for Applications: The Gelia Castillo Award for Research on Social Innovations in Health

The call for applications for the Gelia Castillo Award for Research on Social Innovations in Health (GCARSIH) 2020 is now open.

The Gelia Castillo Award for Research on Social Innovations in Health (GCARSIH) aims to recognize the outstanding social innovations that address persistent, societal and health systems challenges. Through the innovators’ experience, we can better understand why and how social innovations create impact, and discover how to scale up these effective interventions.

This Award is open to ongoing social innovations in health developed by Filipinos for the Filipinos. The entry must be implemented in the Philippines.

For the purposes of this Award, Social innovations in Health (SIH) are defined as new solutions (product, services, models, markets, processes) created by multi-sectoral health system actors. The solutions must (a) address a health need more effectively than existing approaches, (b) have the ability to enhance people’s capacity to act and take ownership of their own health, and (c) result in a more effective use of available resources.

Who can submit an entry?
The Award is open to all individuals, groups and institutions that have successfully developed and implemented social innovations in health in the Philippines. Participating institutions may be:

public or private
members of the consortium
scientific, technological and professional societies or associations
research institutes
universities and colleges
others

How to submit an entry
Step 1. Complete the Submission Entry Form, which includes a comprehensive write-up of the health innovation, a description of future plans for sustainability or scale-up, and relevant supporting documents.
Step 2. Submit your entry in person, via courier or via email.

Email: Send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject GCARSIH SUBMISSION / <Name of Innovation> / <Name of Region>
In-person or courier: Please refer to the Submission Entry Form for the list of RHRDC addresses.

Criteria
A. Eligibility. The submitted social innovations in health will be considered for shortlisting based on the following eligibility criteria:

Developed by Filipino/s
Implemented in the Philippines for at least one (1) year, except for COVID-19 related innovations
Based on an identified priority health need of a community or geographical context
Complete submission entry form (that has enough information for a fair review) submitted within the set deadline

B. Selection. The shortlisted, eligible entries will be reviewed by an external independent panel of experts based on the following selection criteria:

Degree of Innovativeness (25%) - The innovation provides a novel approach to address a systemic health challenge within its local context, providing an alternative to the status quo.
Significance (15%) - The innovation addresses a health priority of the Philippines, or a localized priority (e.g. prevalent yet neglected health problem in a town or a marginalized group).
Participatory & Co-owned (15%) - Participatory approach is evident in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the innovation.
Potential for Further Research or Scale (15%) - There are clear plans for further research and development of the innovation.
Inclusiveness (10%) - The innovation has the potential to be used by a large number of people, enhancing equity and access.
Effectiveness (10%) - The innovation has a demonstrated positive outcome on the health challenge it is addressing.
Affordability (10%) - The innovation is affordable to the poor or to those who are otherwise excluded; or the solution is more cost-effective than the status quo.

Shortlisting and Final Selection
The RHRDC will conduct the initial review and shortlisting of applications based on the eligibility criteria, and endorse the shortlisted entries to the GCARSIH Secretariat. Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will be notified accordingly.

The Final Selection will be conducted by an independent panel of experts convened by the GCARSIH Secretariat. The innovations will be scored on a scale of 1-5 in 0.5 increments. The panel may conduct on-site or online validation calls (e.g. telephone or video conference).

The panel has the prerogative not to give the award if the innovations fail to reach the threshold score. The decision of the panel is final.

Incentives
The top innovations in health will receive a cash prize, eligibility for a research and development grant, and a training package with subject matter experts to enable the project to further expand and scale.

The training package will include modules on the following:

- Design thinking for social innovation
- Embedding research in social innovation/Implementation research basics
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Measuring outcomes and impact
- Sustainability through policy and governance
- Writing a research and development proposal for your social innovation

Important Dates
Submission of entries: June 22 - August 31, 2020
Final selection of winners: September 18, 2020

Downloads
Guide Document (.pdf)
Submission Entry Form (.doc)

PH initiates COVID-19 vaccine talks with local pharma industries

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) met with the local pharmaceutical industry on Wednesday, June 9, 2020, to discuss plans for COVID-19 vaccine trials in the country.

Led by DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña with the sub-Technical Working Group of COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials chaired by DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara, the online meeting was also attended by the vaccine expert panel led by Dr. Nina Gloriani, Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines Manila and representatives from 11 local Pharma companies.

Emphasizing that the government will only enter agreements which will highly favor the Filipino interest, the DOST and PCHRD discussed its plans to capacitate local vaccine manufacturing in the country if clinical trial results are favorable.

“The DOST has been in touch with several international partner institutions to collaborate on vaccine development so that we can participate in their clinical trials, as the country doesn’t have the capacity yet to develop vaccines on its own,” said Usec. Guevara. “Locally, we hope that the local pharma industry is open to the opportunity of capacitating our country in vaccines, not just for this pandemic, but to prepare for the future as well,” added Sec. de la Peña.

To give participants ideas on international discussions on COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Gloriani presented the list of best vaccine candidates, the status of development, and vaccine platforms of nine international partners which expressed interest in conducting clinical trials in the country.

As part of DOST’s business propositions to pharma industries, Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of DOST- PCHRD stressed that the government will provide support to the private sector’s conduct of clinical trials and assistance in product registration for pharma groups.

“The Philippines will be dependent on global supply of vaccines if it will not be developed locally, so to get hold early, it will be beneficial for the country to require a license to manufacture for local pharmaceutical industries and to meet the local demand for vaccines,” said Dr. Montoya.

“We should start investing now, as the country needs to be self-sufficient and capable for the future. The same virus will still appear, and we have to allocate like the other countries. This is the time to start now, and this public-private partnership is important,” added Dr. Mario Jiz, Immunology Department Chair of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and member of the Vaccine Expert Panel.

Dr. Nancy Bermal, Medical Director of Unilab Inc., expressed her appreciation on DOST’s initiative to partner with private pharma groups and suggested that the government can especially help on registration processes with the Food and Drug Administration. Among the pharma groups who participated in the meeting were Lloyd Laboratories Group, Pascual Laboratories, Inc., Pascual Pharma Corp., Unilab – Synovate Pharma, Hizon Laboratories, Westfield Pharmaceuticals Inc., Rainiers Research and Development Institute Inc., New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation, Merck Inc., IG Biotech Inc., and IP Biotech. Collectively, the local pharmaceutical companies expressed their support for the government initiatives and their willingness to be involved in the conduct of the clinical trials as well as the possible local manufacture of vaccines.

Dr. Gloriani also reiterated that while the government aims to fast-track the provision of a vaccine, it needs to ensure that the vaccine candidate is safe and effective for the Filipino people. In closing, Usec. Guevarra emphasized that “DOST will be betting on the best manufacturers, and it is just a matter of who will be willing to help the country.”

Source: http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6564-ph-initiates-covid-19-vaccine-talks-with-local-pharma-industries

Written by: Christine Jane M. Gonzalez

DOST-PCHRD, MDH to test use of melatonin supplement against COVID-19-induced Pneumonia

To support the current efforts against the pandemic, the study seeks to probe whether administering high doses of melatonin (hdM) will lessen the need for intubation or ventilation support of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and ultimately improve the survival rate against the infection. The study will be the first RCT worldwide which will explore the effectiveness and safety of using hdM as adjuvant therapy on top of standard therapy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Adjuvant therapy is used vis-à-vis the primary or main treatment of diseases. Examples of adjuvant therapy are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, among others.

With support from DOST-PCHRD, the project will run for four months in selected hospitals in Metro Manila and Cebu City.

References: