NIH Lists Ivermectin as Targeted Antiviral of Interest for COVID-19
While mass media article after article attacks ivermectin as horse medication of anti-vaxxers, in the meantime, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have more formally embraced the drug, including in the government-funded ACTIV-6 clinical trial. Many naysayers in the media declare that the drug is dangerous or not fit for human consumption, yet nearly 4 billion doses of the drug have been donated via the Mectizan program alone—one that has eradicated river blindness. Of the 64 studies completed involving ivermectin, a couple dozen randomized controlled trials evidence some real promise.
Now the NIH offers the world even more evidence as to the seriousness of this potential treatment. Under a table titled “Table 2e Characteristics of Antiviral Agents that Are Approved or Under Evaluation for the Treatment of COVID-19,” the NIH includes Remdesivir, Ivermectin, and Nitazoxanide.
The COVID-OUT trial is another major ivermectin study ongoing led by the University of Minnesota. Funded with over $100 million by the National Institutes of Health, ACTIV-6 is led by Duke University’s Clinical Research Institute.
In the meantime, Merck’s recent Molnupiravir announcement has led to global deal-making as various nations take their first orders of the drug—even though there have been no peer review results yet nor emergency authorization or approval.