Ivermectin, antiviral properties and COVID-19: a possible new mechanism of action

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2020 Jul;393(7):1153-1156. doi: 10.1007/s00210-020-01902-5. Epub 2020 May 27.

Abstract

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug that has shown also an effective pharmacological activity towards various infective agents, including viruses. This paper proposes an alternative mechanism of action for this drug that makes it capable of having an antiviral action, also against the novel coronavirus, in addition to the processes already reported in literature.

Keywords: Antiviral; COVID-19; Ionophore; Ivermectin; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Ivermectin / administration & dosage
  • Ivermectin / pharmacology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Ivermectin