WHO Warns Against Use Of Ivermectin For COVID-19 Treatment

The WHO's warning against 'ivermectin' - the second in two months - comes a day after Goa approved its use as preventive treatment for all adults with COVID-19

The World Health Organization on Tuesday recommended against the general use of 'ivermectin' - an orally-administered drug used to treat parasitic infections - for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Safety and efficacy are important when using any drug for a new indication. @WHO recommends against the use of ivermectin for #COVID19 except within clinical trials https://t.co/dSbDiW5tCW Patients will be treated with Ivermectin 12mg for a period of 5 days. Expert panels from the UK, Italy, Spain and Japan, found a large, statistically significant reduction in mortality, time to recovery and viral clearance in Covid-19 patients treated with Ivermectin. (2/4) "Safety and efficacy are important when using any drug for a new indication. WHO recommends against use of 'ivermectin' for COVID-19 except within clinical trials," Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the global health body's chief scientist, tweeted. A similar warning has also been issued by German healthcare and life sciences giant Merck, whose statement Dr Swaminathan attached to her tweet. Merck said its scientists continue to "carefully examine findings of all available and emerging studies of 'ivermectin' for treatment of COVID-19". "We do not believe the data available support the safety and efficacy of 'ivermectin' beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information," Merck said.