MALAYSIA will soon commence drug trials to treat Covid-19 patients as part of World Health Organisation’s global efforts to combat the virus, the Health Ministry and WHO said in a joint statement.

The WHO programme is called “solidarity trial” and part of international efforts coordinated by organisation to test several drugs to treat Covid-19.

The trials are set to take place in nine hospitals – Tuanku Fauziah Hospital, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Penang Hospital, Sg Buloh Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malacca Hospital, Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Sarawak General Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in the statement that the ministry has fast-tracked the process to implement drug trials to treat patients with Covid-19.

“Malaysia’s participation in this worldwide trial could help find life-saving medicines for Covid-19 through evaluating their safety and effectiveness,” he said.

He assured that the trial will comply with all safety standards set by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.

Under the trial, data will be collected and the safety and effectiveness of four treatment protocols using different combinations of remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, interferon beta, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine will be compared among those participating in the trial.

The research team will comprise infectious disease physicians and pharmacists as co-investigators at the respective hospitals. It will be headed by Dr Chow Ting Soo, who is an infectious disease (ID) consultant at Penang Hospital.

Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry’s Institute for Clinical Research (ICR) and Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) would help facilitate the implementation of the WHO-initiated trial in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Dr Lo Ying-Ru, the head of mission and WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, said this is the chance as a global community to turn the tide against the pandemic.

“The global pandemic is affecting more than 180 countries, and one of these drugs may be our best hope for treating people infected with Covid-19,” she said.

“This is our chance, as a global community, to turn the tide against the pandemic. Malaysia will be a valued partner in this trial to evaluate potential treatments that are more effective, and to save lives in the global battle to fight this virus.”

Malaysia yesterday recorded 179 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 3,662 infections. The death toll stands at 61.

Of the 179 new cases, 46 were linked to the Sri Petaling tabligh gathering which took place in late February.

The number of Covid-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is 99. – April 6, 2020.