Leaked data of a new study on using the head lice treatment against coronavirus shows the risk of deaths among hospitalized COVID patients is reduced by up to 80%.
According to Daily Mail, Liverpool University's Department of Pharmaclogy virologist Dr. Andrew Hill claimed that Ivermectin, which only costs as low as $2, was can also found to potentially be used as treatment against coronavirus.
The Australian virologist said the drug can be 'transformational' in the battle against coronavirus. "If we see these same trends observed consistently across more studies then this really is going to be a transformational treatment," Dr. Hill noted in the leaked presentation.
Meanwhile, three more trial results will be published later this month, and a bigger set of studies on 7,100 participants will be released later in 2021.
Other scientists are skeptical of this "wonder treatment"
Other scientists were skeptical of the study findings as it requires more data before it could be regarded as a potential treatment. In fact, Ivermectin is a controversial drug as some researchers regard it as a wonder drug.
However, skeptics fear that it would have the same path as hydroxychloroquine touted as a game-changer against coronavirus. They noted that the malaria drug as well as other drugs like tocilizumab showed great promise during the early trial phases but turned out to have no benefit.
In August, University of Sydney head of pharmacy Professor Andrew McLachlan said that "huge uncertainty" remained about whether Ivermectin was a safe and effective treatment against coronavirus. "All we have are observational studies and clinicians' opinions," McLachlan said.
He added that many of the current studies use weak study designs, a few participants, and relatively low and inconsistent dosing regimes of Ivermectin, which is also given along with other drugs.
Related article: Astrazeneca's New COVID Antibody Drug Promises Instant Coronavirus Immunity Enters Phase 3 Trials
This is owned by Tech Times
Written by CJ Robles
