
Ivermectin has been something of a controversy during the pandemic and yet prior to this Ivermectin was heralded as one of the most impressive drugs in history putting it up there with Penicillin.
This blog is written as a lay person having gathered various pieces of evidence about Ivermectin and explored the "controversy" in relation to COVID19.
Decades of use in humans
Discovered in the soils of Japan in the 1970's, it's true that like many drugs, Ivermectin was first used for veterinary purposes, but it wasn't long until it completed Phase I safety trials for human use in 1981.
The drug followed a standard path, completing Phase IV trials between 1987–1989 (the bit we're currently doing with Covid19 vaccines).
- Ivermectin, ‘Wonder drug’ from Japan: the human use perspective
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3043740/
Even before completing phase IV trials, the drug showed such significant value that it found its way on to the WHO's "Essentials medicines list" in 1987.
- WHOs Essential medicine status
https://list.essentialmeds.org/medicines/58
The drug was used around the world primarily for treating parasites where such problems were more prevalent, in particular in developing nations. It was finally approved by the FDA for humans in the US in 1996.
- FDA-Approved Drugs
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=050742
The astonishing success of the drug which changed the lives of millions of people around the world led to the scientists behind Ivermectin being awarded the Nobel Prize in 2015.
- BMJ - Nobel awarded to discoverers of ivermectin
https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5352
Today, the drug continues to be used very widely around the world, with 250 million people taking it annually, many of them over the counter and without prescription.
- Enigmatic multifaceted ‘wonder’ drug continues to surprise and exceed expectations
https://www.nature.com/articles/ja201711
A multipurpose drug
As well as it's anti-parasitic effects, like many drugs, Ivermectin has been found to have multiple mechanisms of action and additional properties including antiviral properties. It has been used "off label" (for purposes other than it was originally approved) to treat viral infections long before COVID19 came along.
- Ivermectin: a systematic review from antiviral effects to COVID-19 complementary regimen
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7290143/
As if that wasn't enough, Ivermectin has also been shown to have a range of anti-cancer mechanisms including enhancing the efficacy of cancer drugs in particular, overcoming drug resistance.
- The multitargeted drug ivermectin: from an antiparasitic agent to a repositioned cancer drug
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5835698/
What about safety?
There are those who have expressed "concern" about the safety of Ivermectin including the original manufacturer Merck. This is despite Ivermectin being well known to be one of the safest drugs available, with decades of safety data and billions of doses taken by hundreds of millions of people every year.
Many papers highlight the safety of Ivermectin, one notable example is co-authored by Chris Whitty (England's Chief Medical Officer), and published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
"The drug has proven to be safe. Doses up to 10 times the approved limit are well tolerated by healthy volunteers"
- Effect of Ivermectin on Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes Fed on Humans: The Potential of Oral Insecticides in Malaria Control
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/202/1/113/888773
- U.S. Poison Control Ivermectin Data Analyzed by TrialSite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkLVnvN-Sb8
The case for COVID19
As already discussed, Ivermectin is known to be multi-purpose with a number of mechanisms of action, including against viruses. Studies have shown that Ivermectin acts in a number of ways to limit the replication of COVID19 and it's effects.
- A systematic review of experimental evidence for antiviral effects of ivermectin and an in silico analysis (computer analysis) of Ivermectin's possible mode of action against SARS‐CoV‐https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8013482/
While many simply follow protocol, since the outbreak of COVID19 we have seen some of the most interesting and honest information coming from front-line doctors and scientists who use their knowledge and skills to practice medicine and learn from this.
100's of doctors and scientists from around the world have conducted studies using Ivermectin, with 1,000's of patients taking part. These include observation trials through to double blind randomised controlled trials. Within this body of evidence there are over 30 randomised controlled trials and of the 60 plus studies to date, 45 have been peer reviewed.
- Ivermectin for COVID-19: real-time meta analysis of 65 studies
https://ivmmeta.com
- MSN Showcases the Amazing Uttar Pradesh Turnaround—The Ivermectin-based Home Medicine Kits
https://trialsitenews.com/msn-showcases-the-amazing-uttar-pradesh-turnaround-the-ivermectin-based-home-medicine-kits/ - Mexico City
https://trialsitenews.com/mexico-city-wide-innovative-population-level-study-administers-ivermectin-based-home-kits-with-drastic-reduction-in-hospitalizations/ - Slovakia Becomes the First EU Nation to Formally Approve Ivermectin for Both Prophylaxis and Treatment for COVID-19 Patients
https://trialsitenews.com/slovakia-becomes-the-first-eu-nation-to-formally-approve-ivermectin-for-both-prophylaxis-and-treatment-for-covid-19-patients/ - El Salvador Minister of Public Health Includes Ivermectin as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues
https://trialsitenews.com/el-salvador-minister-of-public-health-includes-ivermectin-as-covid-19-pandemic-continues/
Why "horse drug"?
So what's going on?
Drug companies have long been known to have tentacles throughout various organisations, attempting to control the narrative through various means. They have been caught manipulating, silencing, dissenting, over-hyping and spreading misinformation and disinformation. For example :
- Merck Created Hit List to "Destroy," "Neutralize" or "Discredit" Dissenting Doctors
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/merck-created-hit-list-to-destroy-neutralize-or-discredit-dissenting-doctors/ - Channel 4 News Exposes Swine Flu Scandal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV1IZVT_LCE
- The mesh implant scandal is a global catastrophe
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/the-mesh-implant-scandal-is-a-global-catastrophe-it-will-need-global-action/
Conclusions
- Painting Ivermectin as a "horse drug" is a clear attempt to mislead the public.
- Questions about safety are unfounded and again a likely an attempt to mislead.
- The idea there is "no evidence" is demonstrably false.
- Claims "it doesn't work" are not backed by sound evidence.
- Other drugs have been granted authorization on lesser evidence.
- We have evidence that pharma engages in nefarious practices.
- Governments and their agencies have conflicts of interest.
- Merck and others have new novel COVID19 drugs in development.