Staff Reporter
Ivermectin manufacturer Merck has warned that there is no conclusive evidence to prove the drug is effective in treating COVID-19.
In a statement released on Thursday, the company said more studies are still being conducted to check the drug’s efficacy and warned it should be administered cautiously.
“Company scientists continue to carefully examine the findings of all available and emerging studies of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 for evidence of efficacy and safety,” said the company.
It pointed out that its studies to date have found no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies.
The company also said there is no meaningful evidence in the drug for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19.
“We do not believe that the data available support the safety and efficacy of ivermectin beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information,” added the pharmaceutical company.
South Africa recently approved the controlled use of ivermectin in humans following appeals by various players in the medical field for the drug to be used for the treatment of COVID-19 under special circumstances.
Presently, there are no ivermectin-containing products registered for human use in South Africa and the drug is only used for the treatment of animals locally.
The South African Health Products Regulations Authority, however, occasionally grants special permission for the use of unregistered ivermectin as a prescription medicine for the treatment of patients with pathogenic parasitic diseases not responding to other medicines.
Earlier this week, The Free Stater reported that the University of the Free State has teamed up with several medical and scientific experts to test the efficacy of ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19 in humans.
FARMOVS, the university’s wholly owned clinical research company, is currently engaged in preparations for a clinical trial protocol to determine the strength of the drug in treating the disease.