A joint study by Monash University, Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne and Royal Hospital showed that the drug suppresses the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell culture.
“We found that even a single dose can essentially destroy all viral RNA in two days and that even in a day its activity was actually significantly reduced,” the authors say.
Ivermectin is an FDA and WHO approved antiparasitic drug that has been shown to be effective in the laboratory against a wide range of viruses, including HIV, influenza and Zika.
Australian virologists, who published their study on the drug's effect on the coronavirus, warned that human trials have not yet been conducted.
“Ivermectin is very widely used and is considered safe. Now we need to find out if the dosage at which it can be used by humans will be effective. This is the next step,”they said.
Although the mechanism by which ivermectin targets the virus is unknown, doctors believe that it works as an inhibitor, weakening the virus and allowing the body's cells to clear themselves.
The scientists noted that the drug's use to combat COVID-19 will depend on the results of further preclinical trials and ultimately clinical trials, with urgent funding needed to continue the work.>