Medicine Cabinet
By Teodoro B. Padilla
Globally, more than 80,000 people have been confirmed to have been infected by the coronavirus acute respiratory disease 2019 (COVID-19), affecting 34 countries to date. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new coronavirus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on Jan. 30, the world continues to closely monitor and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. With close to 1,000 confirmed cases, South Korea has raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level.
In a WHO-led conference with scientists and experts held recently, Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recognized that the “outbreak is a test of solidarity — political, financial, and scientific.” He called on the global community to come together to fight a common enemy that defies borders, and emphasized the need to ensure that resources will be made available to end the outbreak. He added that research is an integral part of the response and was hopeful that science could find shared answers to shared concerns.
Until today, there is still no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. Those affected are receiving supportive care to relieve symptoms, and, thankfully, many recover.
The WHO said that possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are under investigation and being tested through clinical trials. At the moment, the WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19.
Members of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) are developing new medicines and vaccines to help respond to the COVID-19 epidemic. R&D biopharmaceutical companies with potentially relevant know-how have teams of scientists checking their libraries for potential assets that could fight coronaviruses. The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) is a member of the IFPMA, which represents the research-based pharmaceutical companies and associations across the globe.
The IFPMA said that the speedy sharing of the pathogen sequence, followed by the declaration of the novel coronavirus as an international emergency, and the convening of a research and development forum, should further galvanize global collaboration with the private and public sectors for the timely development of vaccines and treatments.
As a science-driven sector, global pharmaceutical companies have reviewed their drug and vaccine portfolios to see if there is any research that could be helpful in tackling COVID-19. This includes efforts to identify suitable assets in their libraries that could be utilized in the fight against coronaviruses. Relevant assets include diagnostics and biomarkers, approved therapies, or compounds in development that could be repurposed for use in treating patients with the coronavirus. Artificial Intelligence is also finding its place in the process, and is being used to mine through medical information to find drugs that might be helpful for tackling the novel coronavirus.
Several biopharmaceutical companies are working with the Chinese government and research institutes in the United States and Australia to fast-track the development of vaccines against COVID-19. Biopharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson announced that it has begun to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, “leveraging on Janssen’s technologies that provide the ability to rapidly upscale production of the optimal vaccine candidate.” GlaxoSmithKline, on the other hand, said that it is making its adjuvant technology available to support rapid development of candidate vaccines, as use of an adjuvant can allow “more vaccine doses to be produced and made available to more people.” Sanofi Pasteur, meanwhile, announced that it will leverage previous development work for a vaccine on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and “will use its recombinant DNA platform.”
In addition to R&D efforts, many research-based biopharmaceutical companies with a presence in China are donating funds, medicines, diagnostics, and medical protective products.
The IFPMA said that Johnson & Johnson has provided boxes containing laboratory-based investigations to the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention, which includes drug screening for anti-viral properties against the novel coronavirus. Pfizer, meanwhile, has made cash contributions to its global NGO partners that have shipped supplies to hospitals in China. Roche also donated diagnostic tests, medical supplies, and financial support.
In the Philippines, PHAP fully supports efforts that will enable the pharmaceutical sector to continue the work it has started in the research and development of potential vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. PHAP president Dr. Beaver Tamesis said that now more than ever, there is need for public-private partnerships to stop the spread of the disease and its several consequences. Pharmaceutical companies enable the research and development of innovations and technologies for the detection of the COVID-19, and in the ongoing search for its potential prevention and treatment. Once available, Dr. Tamesis said, PHAP’s goal is to immediately bring these life-saving innovations into the country.
PHAP also expresses readiness to support efforts to contain this current health threat.
PHAP member companies are also looking very closely at their supply chains to ensure that essential medicines and vaccines are available for Filipino patients. Business continuity plans are also in place to ensure that the supply of needed diagnostics and medicines is uninterrupted during health emergencies.
Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines.
