AstraZeneca eyes PH as site for drug trials
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque reported on Saturday that the British-Swedish pharmaceutical AstraZeneca expressed interest in conducting most of its clinical trials in the Philippines.
Reporting on her activities at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Roque said that AstraZeneca executives also committed to exploring affordability measures to ensure accessibility for Filipinos.
Discussions included expanding clinical trials in the Philippines to retain health-care professionals and improve access to innovative medicines.
“By harnessing AI (artificial intelligence) and digital health, we can revolutionize disease prevention, early detection and treatment—paving the way for better health care that will benefit our people and economy,” Roque said.
At the Davos event, Roque said she has tried to push the Philippines’ focus on digital transformation to strengthen its trade and financial ecosystems
Transformation drive
Speaking at the Innovative Trade Financing Forum on Thursday, Roque said the country has tapped advanced technologies, such as AI and digital tools, to transform supply chains, e-commerce and services trade.
Roque highlighted recent milestones, including the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list and the lifting of a moratorium on digital banks, as part of efforts to create a dynamic financial system.
At the same time, Roque stressed the need to bridge the trade financing gap to empower small businesses and boost global competitiveness.
She also called for greater collaboration among policymakers, business leaders, technologists and advocates to build an ecosystem that empowers all segments of the business community.
