Philippine biodiversity offers potential leads for the development of pharmaceutical medicines, according to an outstanding researcher recently awarded by the Department of Science and Technology - National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP).

“There are endemic plants, insects, marine organisms, minerals (in the country) that could be a source of pharmacologic interventions in diseases,” says Dr. Joven Apostol, a 2017 Outstanding Filipino Researcher. Apostol, a pharmacy professor at the University of Sto. Tomas, admitted that while the presence of foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers has dipped over the years as mosthave  shifted operations to the other countries, such drawback was in a way a blessing.

“It has awakened the Filipino spirit to become more entrepreneurial and there has been a growth spike in drug research  and development in academic and research institutes and local manufacturers focusing on endemic biomaterials,” he said. “This is also partly due to the encouragement and support of the science and technology agencies of the government and other funding agencies.”

Apostol likewise pointed out that basic research is crucial in drug development. “A pharmaceutical product is only good as it is safe and effective,” he says. “A drug molecule will not advance to formulation and manufacturing without the preliminary data on its safety, effect, mechanism of action, toxicity and others – basic information on drug source, synthesis, kinetics and interactions which can only be provided by basic research.”

Research in basic pharmacology includes screening of these biomaterials for their effects on the physical and chemical processes of the living organism and on the nature and courses on diseases. Various methods of testing are employed, such as in vitro, in vivo and in silico. The results of these basic researches serve as the basis to support further studies leading to formulation and clinical use of the drug product.

Gains in the growth of the pharmaceutical sector can be sustained by continuous support to both basic and applied research. This way we can reduce our reliance to foreign manufactured drugs.

Dr. Apostol is optimistic that given the right support, structure, formation of scientists, industry, and government, it is possible that in five to ten years, the country is halfway in terms of drug discovery. In such time, the drug being developed should be in the clinical trial phase and the company doing the development should have spent half a billion dollars, he said.

DOST-NRCP is the country’s lead agency in basic research, and is mandated to promote and support basic and problem-oriented researches, particularly those which are multidisciplinary, in the sciences as well as in the humanities. NRCP supports researches that identify and provide solutions to national issues and problems, and generate new knowledge in preparation for the future.

This June 2017, NRCP will host the 17th Science Council of Asia Conference to be participated in by renowned researchers and scientists from 31 academic institutions and organizations of the 18 member countries across Asia. For details visit http://www.nrcp.dost.gov.ph/previous-issues/173-ph-to-host-the-17th-sca-conference(S&T Media Service, Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin)