SIB #459- COVID and Ivermectin-What you need to know.
The Study: Meta-analysis of randomized trials of ivermectin to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection
Key Points:
· This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous randomized control trials (RCTs) evaluating treatment for SARS-CoV-2 using Ivermectin.
· This meta analysis investigated the use of ivermectin across 24 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) which included a total of 3328 patients,
· Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug being investigated for repurposing against SARS-CoV-2.
· In spite of all the focus on vaccinations here in the U.S., researchers worldwide are urgently looking for therapeutic interventions to prevent new infections, reduce disease progression, and lessen disease severity for those already infected.
· Some of the studies included in this analysis were not peer reviewed and a wide range of doses were evaluated in the various papers.
· Ivermectin is a well-established anti-parasitic drug used worldwide and has a very good safety profile even with higher doses and longer courses of treatment. It has been used by literally billions of patients worldwide.
Results:
· “Ivermectin treatment reduces inflammatory markers, achieves viral clearance more quickly and improves survival compared with SOC.” (standard of care)
· In those studies which included subgroups of patients by dosage and dose duration, “there were significant differences in time to clinical recovery in favour of ivermectin”.
Author’s Conclusions:
“This meta-analysis of 24 RCTs in 3328 patients showed a 56% improvement in survival, faster time to clinical recovery and signs of a dose-dependent effect of viral clearance for patients given ivermectin versus control treatment. This benefit needs to be validated in larger confirmatory trials.” (emphasis ours)
Reviewer's Comments:. Currently, WHO is only recommending ivermectin inside clinical trials but the wheels of large organizations turn slowly. The drug is cheap, safe, widely available and desperately needed. Consequently, many underdeveloped/underfunded countries with limited vaccine availability are turning to the drug in large numbers and with reportedly favorable outcomes so far. The fact that Ivermectin’s effects on viral clearance were directly associated with dosage and duration of treatment lends credibility to the findings.
Reviewer: Mark R. Payne DC
Reference: Hill A, Levi J, Falconer J, et al. Meta-analysis of randomized trials of ivermectin to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Open Forum Infectious Diseases.Published: 06 July 2021