The World Health Organization (WHO) said that anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin should only be used in clinical trials to determine its efficacy against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“It is very important to emphasize that at this point, WHO's recommendation for this drug is not to use it, except in the context of clinical trial,” said Dr. Soccoro Escalante, coordinator of WHO-Western Pacific Region’s Essential Medicines and Health Technologies in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, April 7.
Escalante said that current evidence about ivermectin has shown that “there is no direct effect or any mechanism of any antiviral action against SARS-CoV-2.”
“The effects of ivermectin on end points that are being studied such as mortality, prevention of mechanical ventilation, hospital admissions, duration of hospitalization, and viral clearance are all uncertain,” she said.
Escalante emphasized that WHO conducts “rigorous” studies before recommending any for COVID-19.
“First and foremost, before WHO recommends the use of any treatment for COVID-19, we undertake substantial analysis or very rigorous analysis of the available data that has come out of the clinical trials in terms of looking at the safety and efficacy of these treatments,” she said.
In the local scene, the country’s Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both repeatedly issued joint statements that they were not recommending Ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
However, some Filipino lawmakers are pushing for the use of Ivermectin for COVID-19.