Ivermectin in Covid-19: Review of the Current Evidence

ABSTRACT

The COVID‑19 pandemic has gripped the world in fear with more than 109 million cases and more than 2.4 million deaths as of 16th February 2021. After US, India has the second highest number of cases in the world. A pandemic of this scale has clearly become an unmet medical need warranting research on effective pharmaco-therapeutic agents. Given the time constraints, existing drugs have been repurposed to fill in the gap. Ivermectin is an FDA-approved broad spectrum antiparasitic agent. It is enlisted in the core list of WHO Model List of Essential Medicine 2019. Ivermectin is economical, easily available and safe without any major side effects. Recent research has shown that Ivermectin possesses strong anti-viral properties. It can also be safely combined with other repurposed drugs for Covid-19. Here, we review mechanism of action and current scientific evidence of Ivermectin in treatment and prophylaxis of Covid-19. A number of ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the drug further in the treatment and prophylaxis of Covid-19. Based on the current clinical evidence in treatment and prophylaxis, Indian Experts’ consensus and recommendations by multiple Indian state governments, Ivermectin may effectively and safely add to the current armamentarium of Indian clinicians involved in the care and management of Covid-19 patients.