Ivermectin

Last reviewed: April 28th, 2020

Ivermectin is approved by the FDA as a broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent. It has also demonstrated anti-viral activity against a broad range of viruses in vitro including HIV, dengue, and influenza among others.
The exact mechanism of anti-viral action is unknown. It is hypothesized that Ivermectin destabilizes the Impα/β1 heterodimer, prevents it from binding to the viral protein, and inhibits entry into the nucleus where the viral cargo would reduce the host cell’s antiviral response. The net effect then is a more efficient antiviral response due to reduced inhibition of the antiviral response (See Figure 1 below).

The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.

Caly, L., Druce, J.D., Catton, M.G., Jans, D.A., Wagstaff, K.M., The FDA approved Drug Ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, Antiviral Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104787.
Type of study: In Vitro SARS CoV-1/2
A single treatment of Ivermectin caused a ~5000-fold reduction in virus at 48h in cell culture.
This study provides in vitro evidence of activity against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-hSLAM cells infected with the virus
Further investigation for possible benefit in humans may be warranted.

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