WHO: Nigeria has expressed interest to be part of COVID-19 drug trials

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria has expressed interest to be part of the global solidarity drug trial to combat COVID-19.

The WHO launched solidarity drug trials for these specific drugs — hydroxychloriquine, chloroquine phosphate, and remdesivir — in April.

Speaking on Friday at the joint national briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19,  Fiona Braka, officer in charge, WHO Nigeria, said efforts are underway to start the process in the country.

She said more than 100 countries have joined the solidarity clinical trial, which was launched by WHO and some partners, to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19.

She said over 1,200 patients have been randomised from the first five countries to evaluate the “safety and efficacy of drug combinations”.

Braka also said a total of 89 vaccines are being developed globally, including seven in clinical evaluation and several therapeutics in clinical trials.

She said the organisation is committed to ensuring that medicines and vaccines are shared equitably with all countries as they are being developed.

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

“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.”

As of Friday, 2,170 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Nigeria.

There is no cure or vaccine yet for the disease.