The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it granted one hospital's application for "compassionate use" of anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin for humans, calling it an "investigational product" against COVID-19.
The special permit was granted even though its use on humans for COVID-19 treatment is largely prohibited in the Philippines.
"May isa pong nag-apply sa amin ng compassionate special permit for the use of ivermectin at ito po ay na-grant na ngayong araw na ito," FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said in a public briefing. He did not identify the hospital.
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Domingo added that there are two applications for a certificate product registration of Ivermectin for human use.
“Binigyan na rin po sila ng listahan ng kanilang mga requirements na kailangang isubmit para po umandar yung kanilang application at ma-evaluate,” he said.
"Hindi po kami kontra sa Ivermectin pero kailangan po irehistro yung produkto at dumaan lamang po sa tamang proseso ng pagsiguro ng quality ng gamot na makakarating sa tao," he added.
Ivermectin is used as an anti-parasitic both for animals and humans.
The U.S. FDA approves Ivermectin for use against worms that cause river blindness and head lice. For animals, Ivermectin is used to treat heartworm disease and certain external and internal parasites.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana, who advises the government's pandemic response task force, had warned that consumption of Ivermectin as a means to prevent COVID-19 could lead to diarrhea.
