Herbal dengue drug set for Phase 2 clinical trials

MANILA, Philippines — A herbal extract combination drug to treat dengue is all set for Phase 2 clinical trials this year, an official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) revealed over the weekend.

Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), said the candidate drug to cure dengue will target 600 volunteer-participants for its Phase 2 clinical trials to be done in Cavite.

The De La Salle University-Dasmarinas (DLSU-D) and a spin-off health science startup, Pharmalytics Corp., are behind the research and development of the drug with funding from DOST.

If successful, the Philippines would be known for producing the world’s first-ever medicine to cure dengue fever.

Montoya said DLSU-D and Pharmalytics Corp. had finished Phase 1 clinical trials on the candidate drug on six dengue patients.

Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said that while dengue cases had gone down last year, it remains a priority disease under the DOST and the Department of Health.

Based on government figures, dengue had afflicted 79,218 individuals with 306 dead from January to November 2020.

“While this figure is lower by 81 percent compared with 2019 (tally), it (dengue) remains a health issue in our country,” Dela Peña said in a panel discussion on last Friday’s DOST’s Bayanihan weekly report with Montoya.