The University of Oxford has begun testing the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin as a likely treatment among non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The testing by Oxford is related to a study by the British Government that is looking into improving COVID-19 recoveries outside of the hospital i.e. among mild to moderate patients that don’t require hospitalisation.
There has been a lot of back and forth about the possible effects of Ivermectin on the coronavirus which partially explains why it is being tested.
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What do we know about Ivermectin so far?
This drug is used to treat some types of parasitic roundworm infections. In some cases, Ivermectin is also used on patients suffering from intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis.
Talk of Ivermectin caught steam after a recent study indicated that this oral drug could be used in the form of “prophylaxis treatment” against COVID-19, adding that regular use of the drug may reduce the risk of infection significantly or at the very least keep infected patients from deteriorating further.
What does the WHO say?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has taken a different approach on the matter, warning against the widespread use of Ivermectin citing a lack of evidence. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also warned users against this particular drug for the same reasons.
A German study concluded that Ivermectin has “no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies.”
What does the Indian Health Ministry say?
Although the drug was being used for mild and/or asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in India, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Centre’s Health Ministry removed Ivermectin and Doxycycline from its list of recommended drugs earlier this month.
What led the University of Oxford to start testing this drug?
The University of Oxford is trying to identify how this drug demonstrated a reduction in virus replication during lab studies. The university also cited a pilot program that showed that early administration of the drug could reduce the viral load along with the duration of the symptoms for patients exhibiting mild symptoms.
What other drug is being tested?
In addition to Ivermectin, the University of Oxford is also testing the possible effects of another antiviral drug favipiravir. Overall, this is the seventh treatment or drug to be tested as a likely treatment for COVID-19.
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