The maker of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin says there is no scientific basis to use it against Covid-19.
In a statement released Sunday, Merck there is “no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies; no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with Covid-19 disease; and a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies.”
“We do not believe that the data available support the safety and efficacy of ivermectin beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information,” it added.
Merck’s statement comes after experts warned against using ivermectin, saying there was not enough proof the anti-parasitic drug could be used against the virus.
The Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases or PSMID said last week that “there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of ivermectin for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 infection.”
Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of the Department of Health Technical Advisory Group, in a March 15 post said that the clinical data for ivermectin was still “mixed,” and that Ivermectin offers “no clear benefit at this time.”
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Salvana cited a study saying that while ivermectin is generally safe, “at the doses required for possible antiviral activity, it can cause brain damage.”
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned against the use of the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19 saying the drug is only used for treating animals.
“Ivermectin is NOT APPROVED by the FDA for treatment of any viral infection,” the DOH said in its Facebook page.
“The registered Ivermectin veterinary products are only approved for use the prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in certain animal species,” the DOH said.
Social media posts have been shared claiming the drug is currently being used to treat Covid-19 in several countries like India.
The World Health Organization said ivermectin’s effectiveness in treating Covid-19 patients is “inconclusive.”
“Until more data is available, WHO recommends that the drug only be used within clinical trials.” – Rommel F. Lopez