Staff Reporter
The University of the Free State (UFS) has teamed up with several medical and scientific experts to test the efficacy of Ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19 in humans.
UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader says the university, through its wholly owned clinical research company FARMOVS, has started preparations for a clinical trial protocol to determine the strength of the drug in treating the disease.
“By participating in the preparation of the clinical trial protocol, FARMOVS and the UFS remain supportive of and committed to contributing to the development of treatments and treatment strategies to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Loader in a statement.
“Should the clinical trial protocol be approved by the relevant national regulatory authority, the UFS will be the first university in South Africa to attempt such a study,” she added.
The study, according to Loader, will be conducted in line with all the legal requirements so that it can be submitted for approval to the relevant national regulatory authority.
Presently, there are no Ivermectin-containing products registered for human use in South Africa.
However, the South African Health Products Regulations Authority (SAHPRA) 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.
After representations by various players in the medical field for the drug to be allowed for human use in the country, the North Gauteng High Court issued an order on Wednesday — following an agreement with SAHPRA — to allow doctors to start Ivermectin treatment.
FARMOVS’ competitive advantage, says Loader, is its wealth of bioequivalence and Phase I experience and expertise and patient recruitment success.
It is a full-service clinical research organisation conducting ICH-GCP-compliant Phase I to IV clinical trials.
FARMVOS is the only clinical research facility with the only onsite certified bioanalytical laboratory on the African continent which meets the requirements of the International Organisation for Standardisation and Good Laboratory Practice.
“The UFS is committed to rigorous science and evidence-based research, and both FARMOVS and the university fully support the published opinions and guidelines of . . . SAHPRA and the scientific advisory boards established by the scientific community, as well as the stance of . . . government on Ivermectin for COVID-19,” said Loader.