Nigeria has expressed interest to be part of Coronavirus drug trials - WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disclosed that Nigeria has expressed interest to be part of the global Coronavirus drug trials and the process will soon be initiated.

Fiona Braka, officer in charge of WHO Nigeria said over 100 countries have joined the solidarity clinical trial and over 1,200 patients have been randomised from the first five countries to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drug combinations.

At a press conference on Friday May 1, Braka also disclosed 89 vaccines are being developed globally, including seven in clinical evaluation and several therapeutics in clinical trials.

She said;

“Nigeria has also expressed interest to be part of this solidarity trial and efforts are underway to start the process in Nigeria too.

“Together with global health actors and partners, over the past week, WHO launched the access to COVID-19 tools ACT accelerator, a global collaboration to accelerate development for equitable access to new COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

“We have a total of 89 vaccines that are in development globally, including seven in clinical evaluation and several therapeutics are in clinical trials. WHO is committed to ensuring that as medicines and vaccines are developed, they are shared equitably with all countries and people.

“We do have the solidarity trial which is an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19, launched by the WHO and partners. More than 100 countries have joined the solidarity trial and to date, over 1,200 patients have been randomized from the first five countries to evaluate the safety and efficacy of full drug and drug combinations.”

The international health organization had launched trials for drug such as hydroxychloriquine, chloroquine phosphate, and remdesivir in April, as part of its plan to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.