Global trends in clinical studies of ivermectin in COVID-19
Yagisawa et al., The Japanese Journal of Antibiotics, 74-1, Mar 2021 (Review)
Yagisawa et al., Global trends in clinical studies of ivermectin in COVID-19, The Japanese Journal of Antibiotics, 74-1, Mar 2021 (Review)
Review of ivermectin for COVID-19. Authors note that Kitasato University's project was expanded in response to the results of Caly et al. which had left questions regarding
in vivo therapeutic levels, and the results of those studies were positive. Early in the pandemic, Kitasato University requested Merck to conduct clinical trials in Japan because they have priority for an expansion of ivermectin's indications, however Merck declined.
Since large companies have declined to study ivermectin for COVID-19, trials have been mostly doctor-initiated with relatively little funding. Authors discuss these, noting that the physicians involved are enthusiastic about avoiding bias, and strive to treat and prevent COVID-19 witn non-profit motives.
Authors discuss the trials, epidemiological data, and inaccurate statements made by certain authorities.
Authors note that regulations make it challenging for doctor-initiated trials to enroll many participants in a timely manner.
Authors conclude that ivermectin may turn out to be comparable to the benefits achieved from the discovery of penicillin - said to be one of the greatest discoveries of the twentieth century.
Authors include the nobel prize winning biochemist who discovered ivermectin, Satoshi Ōmura
[en.wikipedia.org].
Yagisawa et al., 24 Mar 2021, peer-reviewed, 4 authors.
Abstract: 44( 44 )
THE JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ANTIBIOTICS
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〈Review Article〉
Global trends in clinical studies of ivermectin
in COVID-19
Morimasa Yagisawa, Ph.D.1,2, Patrick J. Foster, M.D.2,
Hideaki Hanaki, Ph.D.1 and Satoshi Ōmura, Ph.D.1
1
Kitasato University Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute
2
Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy
(Received for publication March 10, 2021)
Response to the initial alarm bells of the Coronavirus infection, which occurred in
Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in November 2019, was delayed as it was
announced to be a type of pneumonia of unknown cause. The WHO warned about
traveling to China in January 2020. After much urging, the world was finally
properly warned, but the Chinese government did not accurately announce the
outbreak situation. Consequently, the delaying of the construction of an epidemic
prevention system worldwide has resulted in the direst infection circumstances
facing the world today. One year has passed since the WHO named the new
coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19, and it was declared a pandemic on
the 11th of March 2020, based on the judgment that it corresponds to “an
internationally concerned public health emergency ”. Suppression of virus
transmission by vaccine has finally begun. To date, the pandemic has affected more
than 115 million people and killed more than 2.5 million people in 220 countries/
regions around the world. There appears to a potential for control in the near future.
However, there is a limit to the supply of vaccines and developed countries are
competing to obtain the required amount of vaccination necessary for their own
citizens. Although the WHO is trying to secure a certain amount for developing
countries, it is predicted that a considerable period of time will be required before
COVID-19 becomes controllable.
On the other hand, with regard to therapeutic agents for COVID-19, studies began
at an early stage. The therapeutic effects of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine,
lopinavir/ritonavir combination, tocilizumab, interferon β1, as well as others, were
found to have limited efficacies or no effect. Remdesivir improves recovery time by
as much as 30% in critically ill patients, but it is not suitable for mild to moderately
ill patients–which comprises the majority of infected individuals. Although the
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steroid drug dexamethasone is effective in alleviating inflammatory symptoms, its
use in mild to moderately ill patients without significant inflammatory symptoms is
not recommended. Currently, there are no therapeutic agents available for mildly ill
patients who are being treated at home (or in self-isolating accommodations) or for
moderately ill hospitalized patients. Nothing is as helpless as a disease without a
cure.
In a situation where the number of COVID-19 patients is rapidly expanding, the
number of deaths increasing worldwide, hydroxychloroquine, doxycycline,
azithromycin, and other drugs are ineffective for therapeutic purposes, an effective
treatment method is being sought. An Australian research group reported that
ivermectin suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication in an in vitro infection experiment.
Ivermectin has been widely used since 1987 for the control of river blindness and
lymphatic filariasis, as well as in the treatment of scabies in humans. Because it is an
extremely safe and well-known inexpensive drug, it began to be used for the
treatment and prevention of COVID-19 in Central..
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