Research Utilization

World’s 1st dengue drug, made by Pinoys

Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña remarks on the developments in the Philippines’s historic feat of developing the world’s first dengue medicine. Among those listening is Dr. Rita Grace Alvero (seated, in blue), program leader of the Dengue Herbal Drug Clinical Trial of Pharmalytics Corp. in partnership with the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute and support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

THE first anti-dengue medicine in the world may be available by end of next year. And, also significant, it is made by Filipino researchers in the Philippines.

Dr. Rita Grace Y. Alvero, program leader of the dengue herbal clinical trial from Pharmalytics Corp., told the “Talakayang HeaRTbeat” on Monday that the researchers from Pharmalytics and De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute have concluded Phase 1 of the clinical trial for the drug against dengue that they got from three plant components. They are hopeful that it will be approved for marketing by the end of 2020.

“We have completed the preclinical testing. We have completed the safety analysis in animals. We are now in the human testing. We have just concluded the Phase 1 clinical trial. [Based on] our findings, there was no dose-limiting toxicity,” Alvero said, partly in Filipino.

She explained that the last cohort, or people who took the medicine, took 106 capsules of 400 mg of its three plant components and no toxicity was observed.

“We will probably start Phase 2 and Phase 3 by the first quarter of next year. We will end by the third quarter. [Then] we will apply for marketing authorization. Hopefully, by the end of 2020, the anti-dengue drug may be out [in the market],” Alvero explained in citing the details of the process of making the drug.

Her announcement was met with a round of applause from Department of Science and Technology (DOST) officials, including Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara and Director Dr. Jaime Montoya of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), and experts Dr. Gisela Concepcion of University of the Philippines-Diliman, Dr. Irene Villaseñor of UP Diliman and Dr. Renato Reyes of Central Luzon State University, who were present during the forum.

She clarified that it will not be a herbal supplement.

“It is a drug. That means it has a scientific basis to back up the efficacy of the anti-dengue drug,” Alvero explained.

De la Peña quipped: “That will be her [Alvero’s] Christmas gift [to us] next year.”

Montoya said he is “very excited” with the developments in making the anti-dengue drug.

“It is the very first in its class. No country, even the US, has an anti-dengue drug produced. We are looking forward to this,” he said.

The dengue drug project by Alvero started in 2012, for a processing period of eight years.

The dengue research was part of the DOST’s Tuklas Lunas program to produce reliable and affordable medicines sourced from the country’s rich biodiversity.

De la Peña said Tuklas Lunas has 28 centers all over the country and 28 research-implementing institutions. A total of P1.5 billion was invested in the program since it started in 2011.

Besides the anti-dengue drug being developed by Pharmalytics and De La Salle, a herbal supplement against dengue was developed by Herbanext Laboratories.

Herbanext’s herbal supplement from tawa-tawa, under the Daily Apple brand name, was released in August at the height of the dengue epidemic in the country.

Guevara said, “As we continue our path [on] the future of medicine development, DOST wishes to honor our Filipino knowledge and traditions in healing combined with the modern discoveries of research and development. This knowledge is a gift from our ancestors. As such, it will be a guide to learn from past mistakes, open new doors to discovery and provide us with courage to face the future. In this we hope for a tomorrow that will enable our countrymen to have cheap, safe, effective and easily accessible medicines.”

For his part, Montoya said, “We are very optimistic that this will happen. We have the best scientists, we have a rich biodiversity, which is the source of these natural medicines, and we have the support of the government, the Council and the department [DOST]. We have the best pool of scientists, of experts.”

He added: “We are very hopeful and optimistic that in the next few years, we are coming up with the very promising, very effective, affordable and safe drugs that will address the leading causes of morbidity and mortality [in the country].”

Image Credits: Lyn Resurreccion

Regular exercise could improve the cardiovascular health of overweight kids

New American research has found that regular physical activity could help boost the cardiovascular health of children who were previously inactive.

Carried out by researchers at Augusta University and the University of Georgia, the new study looked at 175 boys and girls aged eight to 11. Three-quarters of the children had obesity, a majority had prediabetes (where their glucose levels were already higher than normal, which is a major risk factor for diabetes), 3% were prehypertensive and 5% were already hypertensive.

All of the children took part in an eight-month daily after-school aerobic exercise program, which involved coming to the Georgia Prevention Institute every afternoon where they were asked to do their homework for about half an hour and were given a healthy snack.

However, while one group of children were placed in an exercise group and also participated in instructor-led aerobic activities like jumping rope and playing tag for 40 minutes, the group of children placed in the control group took part in more sedentary activities such as crafts, music and board games.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Obesity, showed that after completing the eight-month program, the children who had been assigned to the exercise group showed twice the improvement in key measures of cardiovascular fitness like good cholesterol levels, aerobic fitness and body fat levels, compared to the control group.

“They could do more, breathe better, their heart rates were lower when they were pushing themselves,” said corresponding author Dr. Catherine Davis.

However, they did not show improvements in other key measures such as blood pressure, insulin resistance or arterial stiffness, which is an early indicator of cardiovascular risk. In addition, the team also found that children in the study who had more body fat or a higher body mass index (BMI) already had stiffer arteries than those carrying less fat.

The children in the exercise group did not lose any weight, or reduce their BMI or waist size, which Davis explained is due to growing children replacing some fat with muscle, which is a healthy response.

“They should be growing. With exercise, you can allow their body to develop in a more healthy way,” Davis said.

The researchers say the study shows that children need easy-access aerobic activities which will encourage them to stay physically active. These activities should also be fun, to encourage the children to take part, but not necessarily competitive.

“Children need to feel encouraged to do physical activity even when they are not winning,” said Davis, which means kids should have a variety of programs to choose from and which are not targeted only to those who are sporty, fast or who have good coordination, she says. IB/RGA

“They could do more, breathe better, their heart rates were lower when they were pushing themselves,” said corresponding author Dr. Catherine Davis.

“They should be growing. With exercise, you can allow their body to develop in a more healthy way,” Davis said.

DOST, Italy to partner on liver research

MANILA -- A region in Italy, through its Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze, has offered a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in liver research, Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said over the weekend.

Dela Peña recently visited Trieste, a region in Italy, which he described as having a dense network of academic and scientific institutions.

"The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) is very famous (in Trieste). We already have a partnership with them, particularly (involving) UP (University of the Philippines)," dela Peña told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

TWAS is a global science academy promoting scientific capacity and sustainable development in developing countries. Trieste, according to dela Peña, is a good place for science and technology as there are many institutions and startup companies there.

"We will focus on liver research. Jaundice, for instance, has a long-term effect on babies if not treated right away," he said.

Jaundice is caused by a buildup of waste material in the blood; an inflamed liver or obstructed bile duct.

"Liver cancer is also among the leading cause of deaths in the Philippines," dela Peña added.

The partnership of DOST and Italy further aims to develop a diagnostic device that could intervene in the development of liver cancer, the DOST chief said.

Two students from UP Manila will fly there by November. They are currently taking PhD sandwich program, which means they could spend their PhD training abroad for about a year, dela Peña explained.

Another two PhD students and at least one post-doctoral fellow will be sent to Italy soon, he added.

Italy's request, according to him, was to have a data lab in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, dela Peña said Italy is looking for other partnerships with the DOST in the future.

"They will conduct a European Scientific Forum in July, and they invited the DOST to see what (the Italian government) has to offer. There will be exhibits, forum to be participated by at least 60 countries," he remarked.

Dela Peña said he is happy with what he saw from Trieste, and the partnership offer.

He will send three council heads from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development; Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development; and Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, to meet with small technology companies there, he said. (PNA)

-By Ma. Cristina Arayata

PAGASA: Expect warm December

COMPARED to the northern part of the country, the state weather bureau expects a warmer December for the Visayas region.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Cebu Weather Bureau Chief Al Quiblat said this is because the northeast monsoon or hanging amihan will continue to dominate Luzon.

Hanging amihan is cold and dry air coming from the northeast which results in moderate rainfall and cold wind in the Philippines.

However, Quiblat explained that while the average normal temperature in the Visayas for December should be 30.3 degrees Celsius, the highest heat index recorded by the bureau so far has been 39 degrees Celsius on Dec. 7, 2019.

“So far our recorded temperature for the month of December goes beyond normal, so the Visayas region should expect a warmer month,” said Quiblat.

As of 12:55 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, Pagasa-Mactan recorded the temperature in the Visayas at 31 degrees Celsius with a heat index of 37 degrees Celsius.

Quiblat said climate change is a factor for the warmer temperatures even as the “ber” months were supposed to signal the start of colder days.

Because December 2019 is expected to be a warm month, Pagasa reminds the public to keep themselves hydrated all the time. (RSR)

ZCHRD Conducts Institutional Visit to Member Institutions in Zamboanga Sibugay Province and Zamboanga del Sur

On 23-25 October 2019, The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) together with the Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD) conducted an Institutional visit among its member institution namely JH Cerilles State College and Saint Columban College in Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur; and MSU-Buug Campus, Zamboanga Sibugay Province.

The visit aims to inform member institutions of what PCHRD is showcasing especially its programs, services, projects and priority activities. and to clear out the common misconception that the conduct of health research is limited to Medical Doctors, Health Professionals, and other Allied Health Workers, rather it can also be conducted by Researchers in general who has health-research studies or studies that has a health component.

Ms. Marie Jeanne Berroya, Senior Science Research Specialist of PCHRD and Regional Project Officer of ZCHRD pointed out the importance of acquiring research clearances before funding and implementation of a research study. This includes Technical Clearance to ensure the technical and scientific soundness of the research study. For research studies involving human participants, an Ethical clearance, issued by an accredited Research Ethics Committee is a must as mandated by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board. Special clearance may also be necessary such as the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) clearance for papers involving Indigenous People or Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC); Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) clearance for studies that involve animals; and Gratuitous Permit and Biosafety Clearance.

Mr. Halid Tamano, Science Research Specialist I, presented ZCHRD as the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium for the Zamboanga Peninsula and Isabela City, Basilan. He stressed the duties and responsibilities as well as the benefits of Consortium Member Institutions, which includes but are not limited to resource sharing, research mentoring, capacity building activities, and research funding.

Ms. Angeline Hipolito. Project Assistant-II, of DOST IX, presented and encouraged researchers to avail of funding offered by DOST IX and DOH IX for research proposals. The Regional Research Fund (RRF) provided by the PCHRD is a fund intended for budding researchers to encourage them to be actively involved in health research activities without having to compete with more experienced researchers, at the same time a stepping stone to a larger scale of research project that may be funded by DOH, CHED, and other national and international funding agencies. On the other hand, the Department of Health – Health System Research Fund (DOH-HSRF) Initiative provides support for research projects in Region IX targeting its priority areas on Leadership and Governance, Service Delivery, Information System, Health Human Resource, Access to Medicine and Health Financing. Both funding source grants research projects with a budgetary requirement of up to 500,000.00php. Regular employees and medical residents with the supervision of their respective departments of a ZCHRD member institution are qualified to avail of the funds.