Repurposing Ivermectin for COVID-19: Molecular Aspects and Therapeutic Possibilities
Wehbe et al.,
Repurposing Ivermectin for COVID-19: Molecular Aspects and Therapeutic Possibilities,
Front. Immunol., doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.663586 (Review)
Review of how ivermectin was identified for use in COVID-19, mechanisms of action, and selected clinical trials.
Wehbe et al., 30 Mar 2021, peer-reviewed, 7 authors.
Abstract: REVIEW
published: 30 March 2021
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.663586
Repurposing Ivermectin for
COVID-19: Molecular Aspects and
Therapeutic Possibilities
Zena Wehbe 1†, Maya Wehbe 2†, Rabah Iratni 3, Gianfranco Pintus 4,5, Hassan Zaraket 6,7,
Hadi M. Yassine 8* and Ali H. Eid 9,10*
Edited by:
Shuofeng Yuan,
The University of Hong Kong,
Hong Kong
Reviewed by:
Jun Wang,
University of Arizona, United States
Shailesh Kumar Patel,
Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu
Vishwavidyalaya, India
*Correspondence:
Hadi M. Yassine
hyassine@qu.edu.qa
Ali H. Eid
ali.eid@qu.edu.qa
†
These authors have contributed
equally to this work
Specialty section:
This article was submitted to
Viral Immunology,
a section of the journal
Frontiers in Immunology
Received: 03 February 2021
Accepted: 15 March 2021
Published: 30 March 2021
Citation:
Wehbe Z, Wehbe M, Iratni R, Pintus G,
Zaraket H, Yassine HM and Eid AH
(2021) Repurposing Ivermectin for
COVID-19: Molecular Aspects and
Therapeutic Possibilities.
Front. Immunol. 12:663586.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.663586
1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 2 Department of
Internal Medicine, Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke, United Kingdom, 3 Department of Biology, College
of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, 4 Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences,
College of Health Sciences, and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates,
5 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy, 6 Department of Experimental Pathology,
Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 7 Center for Infectious
Disease Research (CIDR), Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 8 Biomedical Research Center,
Q.U. Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, 9 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Q.U. Health, Qatar
University, Doha, Qatar, 10 Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Q.U. Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
As of January 2021, SARS-CoV-2 has killed over 2 million individuals across the world. As
such, there is an urgent need for vaccines and therapeutics to reduce the burden of
COVID-19. Several vaccines, including mRNA, vector-based vaccines, and inactivated
vaccines, have been approved for emergency use in various countries. However, the slow
roll-out of vaccines and insufficient global supply remains a challenge to turn the tide of the
pandemic. Moreover, vaccines are important tools for preventing the disease but
therapeutic tools to treat patients are also needed. As such, since the beginning of the
pandemic, repurposed FDA-approved drugs have been sought as potential therapeutic
options for COVID-19 due to their known safety profiles and potential anti-viral effects.
One of these drugs is ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic drug created in the 1970s. IVM later
exerted antiviral activity against various viruses including SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we
delineate the story of how this antiparasitic drug was eventually identified as a potential
treatment option for COVID-19. We review SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle, the role of the
nucleocapsid protein, the turning points in past research that provided initial ‘hints’ for
IVM’s antiviral activity and its molecular mechanism of action- and finally, we culminate
with the current clinical findings.
Keywords: COVID-19,..
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treatments are complementary. All practical, effective, and safe means should
be used based on risk/benefit analysis. No treatment, vaccine, or intervention
is 100% available and effective for all current and future variants. We do not
provide medical advice. Before taking any medication, consult a qualified
physician who can provide personalized advice and details of risks and
benefits based on your medical history and situation.
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