PH now a center of new medicine trials

PH now a center of trials for new meds, docs say

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has become one of the centers for clinical trials for new medicines in the Asia-Pacific region, providing indigent patients with access to cutting-edge medical treatment, according to members of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO).

Doctor Ellie May Villegas, PSMO vice-president, said drug companies said more and more clinical trials were being conducted in the country “because of the credibility of tests” conducted here and because some medicines have turned out to be effective only on Asians.

She said the new drugs that have been clinically tested in the country include those intended for lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer, with drug companies spending at least P2 million on the medication of each patient who participates in a trial that can last for two years.

“They’re very happy with the results because our results are not bogus. We really do the trials well,” Villegas said in an interview.

Besides drug companies, the European Medicines Agency and the National Institutes of Health of the United States also sponsor these clinical trials.

Such trials have become more common in the last five years, she said.

Villegas dismissed suggestions that these clinical trials were taking advantage of indigent patients who have no money for medicines.

“No, being poor is not a factor here. I have many patients who are millionaires and I also offer these to them. A patient is admitted to the clinical trial only if or she meets the criteria for that particular trial,” Villegas said.

Doctor Annielyn Ong-Cornel, a PSMO fellow, said the clinical trials do help patients who cannot afford medication.

Access to good meds

“There are many patients who are willing to be included because it gives you access to good medication and cutting edge science,” said Cornel, who has participated in 25 clinical trials since 2007.

“They started coming in 2005 because we are now seeing that people in different countries respond differently to the same medicine. The lung cancer of an Asian is different from that of a Caucasian,” Cornel said.

She said Asians are more responsive to some medications compared to Caucasians “or there are more side effects.”

“It’s all boils down to genetics. For example, treatment for lung cancer used to be uniform but nowadays, you have to do genetic testing for specific protein abnormalities in the cancer. And you have certain medications which target that abnormality,” Cornel said.

“We have a tablet that targets one specific genetic abnormality. If you have lung cancer, and you are positive for that (genetic mutation), then there is a bigger chance that you would respond (positively) to the tablet. If you don’t have that mutation, there is no response,” she added.

Cornel said patients who want to join a clinical trial are also thoroughly briefed before they are admitted.

“They are informed about the side effects, that they can quit any time, and that the data obtained would be used for scientific purposes. They usually discuss this with their families before they say yes or no,” Cornel added.

Article Source: Philip C. Tubeza, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Limitations on foreign investment in PH added

Aquino expands list of foreign investment limitations

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has expanded the list of investment areas and economic activities that prohibit the participation of foreign investors under the 9th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List. 

The said list enumerates the industries and business activities that are open to Filipino businessmen, and defines the extent of participation of foreign investors in areas allowed by specific laws and the Constitution.

Aquino signed Executive Order No. 98 on October 29, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said on Friday. The order, which also expands investment opportunities reserved for Filipinos, replaces E.O. 858 that started to take effect in February 2010. 

EO No. 98 takes effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 

“There are investments areas or activities which foreign ownership limitations imposed by law were not included in EO 858. Those changes are now reflected in the ‘List A’ of the new presidential directive,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa said among E.O. 98's amendments to E.O. 858 are:

• The foreign ownership and foreign practice limitations imposed under the Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines (Republic Act 9646); 
• The Philippine Respiratory Act (R.A. 10024); 
• The Philippine Psychology Act (R.A. 10029) and 
• The Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007 (R.A. 9474)

Except for R.A. 9474, which allows foreign ownership of up to 49 percent in lending companies, the three other laws limit the practice of non-Filipinos in the areas of real estate and health care such as respiratory therapy and psychology, unless there is a reciprocity arrangement prescribed by a law.

List A of EO No. 98 specifies the areas of economic activity where foreign ownership is prohibited or limited by the Constitution or laws, among them: 

• mass media 
• practice of all professions, cooperatives
• private security agencies
• small-scale mining
• private radio communications network, private recruitment for local or overseas employment 
• advertising
• ownership of private lands, 
• lending companies, 
• financing companies and investment houses regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission

List B contains economic activities regulated by law such as: 

• small- and medium-scale domestic enterprises
• defense-related industry (i.e., manufacture of firearms, etc.) and 
• businesses that have implications on public health and morals (i.e., gambling, sauna, massage clinics, etc.)

List A may be amended any time to reflect changes brought about by new laws, according to Ochoa. 

List B may be amended not more than once every two years upon the recommendation of the departments concerned and endorsed by the National Economic and Development Authority, or upon NEDA’s own initiative and recommendation, approved by the President and promulgated by a presidential proclamation.

“For now, List B stays while the changes to the negative list covers only List A,” Ochoa said. 

Under the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 (R.A. 7042), foreign investors are allowed to own 100-percent equity in businesses excluded from the negative list.

Article Source: Philippine News Agency, InterAksyon

Magnitude 6.1 quake strikes off Mindanao

6.1-magnitude quake hits off Mindanao: USGS

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE) A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao early Saturday, US seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a depth of 38 kilometers (24 miles) and hit at 2:17 a.m. (1817 GMT Friday) some 87 kilometers east of Butuan City.

The USGS had initially reported the quake as having a magnitude of 6.4, but revised it to 6.1.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology measured the quake at 6.5 magnitude and warned that aftershocks were expected.

No damage or injuries were immediately reported, regional civil defense officer Troy Callo told AFP, adding that some local residents complained about "objects falling inside houses".

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, with an average of 20 typhoons battering the archipelago every year.

It also sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire -- a belt around the Pacific Ocean dotted by active volcanoes and unstable ocean trenches.

A 7.6-magnitude quake hit the country's east coast on August 31, triggering a tsunami alert that forced more than 130,000 to flee their homes and causing a landslide that killed one person.

Article Source, Agence France-Presse (for InterAksyon)

Azkals on AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 Game Schedule

The Philippine Azkals team will be playing three (3)l games befoe the semi-final games of the 2012 AFF Cup, or the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, begin. The upcoming football Cup, which will be co-hosted by Malaysia and Thailand and will be running from 24 November to 22 December 2012. is the ninth edition of the ASEAN Football Championship. 

The Azkals are reportedly set to match with Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar under Group A. Within its group tournament, all Azkals games will be held in Thailand. 

The first two (2) matches of the Philippine Azkals will happen at the Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok.  Its third game will take place at the SCG Stadium, Nonthaburi.

Here is the Azkals schedule of games in the elimination round of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012.

• November 24 (Sat) - Azkals (Philippines) vs Thailand (Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok)
• November 27 (Tues) - Azkals (Philippines) vs Vietnam (Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok)
• November 30 (Fri) - Azkals (Philippines) vs Myanmar (SCG Stadium, Nonthaburi)

DOH on Code White alert for Undas

The Department of Health (DOH) has raised Code White alert on its hospitals as preparation for the anticipated flow of people into cemeteries for the All Saints' and All Souls' days on November 1 and 2, respectively.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday announced that "all hospital staff and personnel will be on duty in government hospitals during the UNDAS period to provide medical assistance."

From October 31 to November 3, "all DOH-retained hospitals are on standby for any eventualities or untoward incidents," the NDRRMC announcement furthered.