COVID-19 and Ivermectin: Potential threats associated with human use

Tean Zaheer; Kaushik Pal; Rao Zahid Abbas; María Del Pilar Rodríguez Torres

doi:10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130808

COVID-19 and Ivermectin: Potential threats associated with human use

J Mol Struct. 2021 Nov 5:1243:130808. doi: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130808. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Authors

Tean Zaheer¹, Kaushik Pal², Rao Zahid Abbas¹, María Del Pilar Rodríguez Torres³

Affiliations

¹ Chemotherapy Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad- 38040, Pakistan.
² Laboratório de Biopolímeros e Sensores, Instituto de Macromoléculas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (LABIOS/IMA/UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-90, Brazil.
³ Laboratorio de Ondas de Choque (LOCH),Centro de Física Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, (CFATA),Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM Juriquilla Boulevard, Juriquilla no. 3001, Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., C.P. 76230, Mexico.

Abstract

Drugs re-purposing due to COVID-19 virus has declared a number of useful candidates for treatment and prevention of the virus. Ivermectin (IVM) has gained much popularity due to a strong background of magical applications against a broad spectrum of pathogens. The in- vitro studies of ivermectin have shown promise, the thorough clinical trials of its efficacy in the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 are still warranted. Useful strategies for analyzing projected use of IVM in human coronaviruses might be developed. It may be done by concluding ongoing clinical trials and culturing lessons from IVM usage in veterinary practice. The potential toxicity and careful dosage analyses are urgently required before declaring it as an anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidate. This manuscript overviews the background and potential threats associated with the off-label use of IVM as prophylactic drug or treatment option against COVID-19 virus.

Keywords: CVID-19 virus; Drug analysis; Ivermectin; Safety; Threats.