Ivermectin may prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2

2021/01/19 Agirre Ruiz de Arkaute, Aitziber - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biokimika
• COVID-19
• Medikuntza
• Mikrobiologia
• Farmakologia

A clinical trial in Navarre and Barcelona suggests that the drug ivermectin, in addition to reducing the duration of symptoms of covid-19, can reduce the viral load of the sick and reduce the transmission of the virus.

The results have been published by the journal EClinical Medicine de The Lancet. According to the authors, the results are not consistent, so they are not susceptible to start treatments. But they underline the need for further research, as researchers have seen indications of usefulness.

In the clinical trial, mild symptoms of covid-19 began to be transmitted to ivermectin patients in the first few days. In the blood tests, it was observed that on treatment days, although they were still positive for CRP, their viral load was three times lower than that of the placebo group, four days after treatment, and 18 times less than seven days. On the other hand, IgG antivirus antibodies were developed, although in smaller quantity, and the duration of mild symptoms was shortened (loss of smell, taste and cough).

Analyzing the results, researchers have suggested that ivermectin has no anti-inflammatory effects. They propose that the virus can prevent its introduction into cells, as announced by a study conducted at the Pasteur Institute.

In the midst of the debate

Ivermectin opened a debate at the beginning of the pandemic when it was suggested that it was useful to reduce replication of SARS-CoV-2, since it should be emitted at high concentrations to be effective, far from the allowed concentrations. The new study reveals that the doses accepted in Europe are also effective in disrupting transmission if it occurs immediately after symptoms appear.

According to the researchers, to date, most of the research has focused on the development of drugs for the treatment of vaccines and the symptoms of the disease, paying little attention to other possible uses of drugs. If ivermectin is confirmed to be used to reduce the transmission of the virus, treatment may help infected people not transmit the virus to others and may be used as a public health tool.