A simple treatment for COVID-19 could be cheaper than $ 20 – and familiar to most school nurses.
The lice physician ivermectin is being explored as a potential treatment for coronavirus following a promising new study that showed an 80% reduction in the deaths of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Only 8 of 573 patients receiving ivermectin died, compared with 44 of 510 individuals who died after taking a placebo.
A previous study of the antiparasitic prescription drug, which costs between $ 17 and $ 43 for a course of treatment, according to GoodRx, revealed promising results in April – by removing all viral RNA within 48 hours of a single administration. doses.
Liverpool University virologist Andrew Hill called the new study a “transformer” in search of coronavirus therapy. His findings, based on data from more than 1,400 patients, were made public in a video posted on YouTube in which Hill discusses his results in a previously streamed live stream. The research is currently awaiting a peer review before publication.
“If we see that the same trends are constantly observed in several studies, then it will really be a transformative treatment,” Hill said.
However, critics called the conclusion of Hill’s study premature, calling for further research before declaring ivermectin an effective treatment – citing other methods that failed to deliver, such as hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab.
“All we have are observational studies and medical opinions,” said Professor Andrew McLachlan of the University of Sydney, the Daily Mail reported.
Many of the current studies have a low number of participants, poor study projects, and inconsistent (and relatively low) ivermectin dosing regimens, ivermectin frequently administered in combination with other drugs.
