While delivering a press statement that was broadcast live on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel and accessed from here on Monday, he noted that Indonesia can emerge from the pandemic faster if the COVID-19 vaccination program is complemented with the use of anti-virus medicines.
According to the minister, the government has carried out clinical trials for several medicines that are within the monoclonal antibodies category, such as Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab.
In addition, the Health Ministry is also exploring several new anti-virus medicines that have gained popular attention, such as Molnupiravir and AT-527, he said.
"We are also learning about an anti-virus medicine named Proxalutamide produced by Suzhou Kintor Pharmaceuticals from China," he added.
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The ministry is also continuing to monitor the development of phase three clinical trials of COVID-19 anti-virus medicines, Sadikin said.
"For the promising medicines, we are offering to have the phase three clinical trial be conducted in Indonesia," he elaborated.
With this policy, the minister said that he hopes Indonesia can quickly figure out the compatibility of the new medicines so that they could be utilized in the nation.
"We will continue to provide an update regarding its development. I request all of your prayers so that we can finally move past this pandemic into endemic (phase)," he affirmed.
The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was officially confirmed on March 2, 2021.
As of October 18, 2021, Indonesia has officially recorded over 4.2 million confirmed cases, 4,075,011 recoveries, and 142,999 deaths, with the number of people under treatment reaching 17,374.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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