Ping to FDA: Allow sale of COVID pill on the market

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson calls on the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to allow the sale of COVID-19 pill molnupiravir on the market.

“‘Yung mismong permiso ibigay na, ilabas na ng FDA para ‘pag nandiyan na sa merkado, bibili na lang tayo o bibili ‘yung national government, local government, ipapamahagi sa mga public hospital.”

Molnupiravir, a COVID drug already approved in some countries, was discovered and developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. With proper administration, studies show that it can prevent hospitalization of a COVID-19 patient by up to 50 per cent.

In the Laguna edition of the Lacson-Sotto tandem’s Online Kumustahan (OK), the presidential candidate of Partido Reporma also revealed the hardship that one of his staff went through while waiting to be treated for COVID-19.

“Ako, mismong staff ko, na-COVID… Nakapila, alam niyo ang tawag, sitting patient. Hindi na siya makahinga, nandoon siya sa corridor ng ospital, naghihintay ng kuwartong mababakante. Napakiusap namin na ipasok sa San Lazaro,” recalled Lacson.

“Ngayon, naresetahan ng doktor, remdesivir. Ang sagot kaagad, wala kaming available niyan sa aming pharmacy. Bakit? Bakit walang stock? Bakit kailangan bumili ‘yung pobreng pasyente?” said the lawmaker, who thought that this wouldn’t have happened if molnupiravir was available in the market.

Currently, only four hospitals in the country have been granted permission for compassionate use of the drug, although the company that makes molnupiravir has also applied for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA.

Molnupiravir is already being used for COVID-19 patients in the United Kingdom.