The FDA is urging people to not use the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin intended for animals as treatment for COVID-19 after the announcement of a study that shows the drug inhibits the replication of the virus in a laboratory setting.
The pre-publication article for Antiviral Research describes how the SARS-CoV-2 — the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — responded to ivermectin when exposed in a petri dish, but the drug was not given to people or animals in this study.
More testing is needed to determine whether ivermectin might be safe or effective at preventing or treating COVID-19, the FDA said in a letter posted on its website Friday.
“FDA is concerned about the health of consumers who may self-medicate by taking ivermectin products intended for animals, thinking they can be a substitute for ivermectin intended for humans,” wrote Dr. Steven Solomon, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “People should never take animal drugs, as the FDA has only evaluated their safety and effectiveness in the particular animal species for which they are labeled. These animal drugs can cause serious harm in people.”
Dr. Solomon added people should not take any ivermectin unless it is obtained from a legitimate source or has been prescribed to them by a licensed health care provider.
Ivermectin tablets are approved for treating some parasitic worms in people and for external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea. The drug is approved to prevent heartworm disease in some small animal species and to treat certain internal and external parasites in various animals.
The FDA has been on the lookout for fraudulent COVID-19 products that claim to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure the coronavirus. There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine for COVID-19.
To report fradulent coronavirus treatment products, idividuals can contact the FDA via email at FDA-COVID-19-Fraudulent-Products@fda.hhs.gov or by phone at 1-888-InfoFDA (1-888-463-6332).
• Shen Wu Tan can be reached at stan@washingtontimes.com.
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