https://youtu.be/YV2H6_0i4f0
According to a new study conducted at Sheba’s Center for Travel Medicine and Tropical Disease, one viable and readily available treatment option can be found in Ivermectin, a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent, most commonly used in developing countries. The study, directed by Prof. Eli Schwartz, indicated that Ivermectin reduces the duration of COVID-19 infection.
According to Prof. Schwartz: “We decided to go for Ivermectin because we knew its safety profile well … I decided to test it on patients during the early stages of the disease, to see if it can act a bit like a vaccine and shorten or prevent the contagious stage, and thus break the transmission chain and shorten the isolation period … the study showed that Ivermectin really acted well and shortened the contagious period … The results are very encouraging, and indicate that the drug has antiviral effects.”
Favorable outcome on viral load and culture viability using Ivermectin in early treatment of non-hospitalized patients with mild COVID-19 – A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial
Abstract
Background Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic agent, also has anti-viral properties. Our aim was to assess whether ivermectin can shorten the viral shedding in patients at an early-stage of COVID-19 infection.
Methods The double-blinded trial compared patients receiving ivermectin 0·2 mg/kg for 3 days vs. placebo in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab was obtained at recruitment and then every two days. Primary endpoint was reduction of viral-load on the 6th day (third day after termination of treatment) as reflected by Ct level>30 (non-infectious level). The primary outcome was supported by determination of viral culture viability.
Results Eighty-nine patients were eligible (47 in ivermectin and 42 in placebo arm). Their median age was 35 years. Females accounted for 21·6%, and 16·8% were asymptomatic at recruitment. Median time from symptom onset was 4 days. There were no statistical differences in these parameters between the two groups.
On day 6, 34 out of 47 (72%) patients in the ivermectin arm reached the endpoint, compared to 21/ 42 (50%) in the placebo arm (OR 2·62; 95% CI: 1·09-6·31). In a multivariable logistic-regression model, the odds of a negative test at day 6 was 2.62 time higher in the ivermectin group (95% CI: 1·06–6·45). Cultures at days 2 to 6 were positive in 3/23 (13·0%) of ivermectin samples vs. 14/29 (48·2%) in the placebo group (p=0·008).
Conclusions There were significantly lower viral loads and viable cultures in the ivermectin group, which could lead to shortening isolation time in these patients.
The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 044297411.
PS Israel has started a even bigger clinical study.