Task Force: There Must Be Clinical Trials Of COVID-19 Antiviral Drugs

ILLUSTRATION/UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force (Satgas) Prof Wiku Adisasmito emphasized that there must be clinical trials on the currently emerging COVID-19 antiviral drugs.

"This stage is an obligation that must be carried out before the drug is suitable for general use by the general public," said Wiku, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, October 5.

He said, in principle, Indonesia is open to all alternative types of treatment because it is solely a common goal, namely to increase healing as high as possible.

"In the future, the government will immediately inform updates regarding the development of drugs and health materials to support COVID-19 services," said Wiku.

Previously, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that his ministry would conduct evaluations and clinical trials of circulating COVID-19 drugs.

"The Ministry of Health continues to work closely with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and vertical hospitals to conduct reviews and clinical trials of all new drugs," he said.

The Minister of Health said that evaluation and clinical trials would be carried out on drugs, both manoclonal antibodies and new antiviral drugs such as Molnupiravir from Merck & Co.

"So we have 'approached' the manufacturers of these drugs, and we have also planned for some to have started clinical trials," he said.

The Minister of Health hopes that by the end of this year there will be known COVID-19 drugs that are suitable for the people of Indonesia.