[EvaH (OP)]

Gary asks:

Why has Ivermectin been overlooked as a prophylaxis, early stage treatment and late stage treatment for COVID-19 when there is so much evidence that it is very effective (and very inexpensive)? This could transform the next few months allowing businesses to open, travel to occur and life to return to normal.

What do you think?

[set fair]

I think basically it's been sidelined because there's no money in it.

[Bored chemist]

I think basically it's been sidelined because there's no money in it.

Ivermectin is on the market; you can make money from it.
if you massively increased demand, you could raise the price and make a  lot of money.

As far as I can tell, while there are a handful of trials going on, there is not yet any robust data saying it works.

[Colin2B]

I think basically it's been sidelined because there's no money in it.

Ivermectin is on the market; you can make money from it.
if you massively increased demand, you could raise the price and make a  lot of money.

As far as I can tell, while there are a handful of trials going on, there is not yet any robust data saying it works.

That’s exactly the situation.
EMA reviewed the results of the trials and these comments are relevant:
“EMA reviewed the latest published evidence from laboratory studies, observational studies, clinical trials and meta-analyses. Laboratory studies found that ivermectin could block replication of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), but at much higher ivermectin concentrations than those achieved with the currently authorised doses. Results from clinical studies were varied, with some studies showing no benefit and others reporting a potential benefit. Most studies EMA reviewed were small and had additional limitations, including different dosing regimens and use of concomitant medications. EMA therefore concluded that the currently available evidence is not sufficient to support the use of ivermectin in COVID-19 outside clinical trials.

Although ivermectin is generally well tolerated at doses authorised for other indications, side effects could increase with the much higher doses that would be needed to obtain concentrations of ivermectin in the lungs that are effective against the virus. Toxicity when ivermectin is used at higher than approved doses therefore cannot be excluded.”
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-advises-against-use-ivermectin-prevention-treatment-covid-19-outside-randomised-clinical-trials

[evan_au]

There are a number of Ivermectin clinical trials listed at this website (of which this is just one, due to finish in March 2021):
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04602507

We have had some Australian politicians (with no medical credentials) promoting Ivermectin
- They should not be promoting for the public to use it
- But they can reasonably promote clinical trials into it (if the lab evidence warrants it)
- To which the industry can reply by pointing to the clinical trials which are already underway.

[set fair]

Good for the Ausralian politicians, they know enough to smell a rat and believe the honest doctors. JAMA recently published a trial showong ivernectin didn't work - enough to move me off the fence into the ivermectin works camp.