COVID-19 Vaccine May Have Been Discovered in the Philippines

• A doctor from the Philippines is offering his drug, the Fabunan anti-viral injection, as a potential solution against the coronavirus.
• Dr. Willie Fabunan’s anti-viral drug has been patented in the United States by his brother Dr. Ruben.
• The Fabunan family of doctors have been treating patients for decades with dengue, chikunguya, dog or snake bites, and even HIV/AIDS using their anti-viral injection.

While many first world countries are racing towards finding the cure for the highly contagious COVID-19, a vaccine that potentially fights against the dreaded virus may just be in the suburbs of a third world country: the Philippines. The Fabunan anti-viral drug has garnered a strong following in Philippine social media after its makers claimed that it may help battle the disease.

In the province of Zambales, a clan of doctors have treated patients of mosquito-caused illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya; dog and snake bites; and/or even HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Ruben Fabunan, who now lives in Los Angeles, U.S., was the one who discovered the drug. When he arrived in L.A., he had the anti-viral drug patented and established a private biotechnology firm Fil-Am Tech. He then began using the same drugs in treating his patients with HIV/AIDS.

Meanwhile, his younger brother Dr. Willie continues to manage their family clinics in Olongapo City and in San Marcelino, Zambales.

According to Dr. Willie, the Fabunan anti-viral injection is a combination of drugs that can be purchased straight from local pharmacies.

“We just change the ratio of these combination drugs in treating various ailments,” Dr. Fabunan said in a news report published by The Manila Standard.

In 1999, Dr. Fabunan successfully treated a rate of 9 out of 10 patients living with HIV/AIDS when he was still practicing in his hometown in San Marcelino.

Citing the lack of support to scientists or innovators from the Philippine government, The Fabunan family of doctors have given up trying to be recognized for their discoveries.

“We have been using this drug for decades, we have acquired U.S. patent for them and we’re all licensed practicing doctors who graduated from government-recognized medical school, but it is frustrating,” Dr. Fabunan told The Manila Times.

He added that he “does not care anymore” if the Philippine government or its health department would recognize the efficacy of their drug, despite documents they have submitted and presented in the past.

“Our patients, who have recovered from serious illnesses and diseases through the years, would be the ones to attest for its effectiveness,” he said.

In a Facebook post, the Fabunan Medical Clinic clarified that the Fabunan anti-viral injections is not “commercially sold”. They said it is “used exclusively by the Fabunan Medical Clinic.

Many outstanding inventions by Filipino scientists have been bought its patent and mass produced by other countries due to the lack of support and funding from the local government.

Several countries, including the U.S., China, Japan, and the U.K., are racing to find cure against the highly contagious coronavirus. For example, Scientists in Seattle already began injecting the potential cure against coronavirus with Jennifer Haller, 43, as the first volunteer.

The phase 1 clinical trial was conducted by Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle.