1974

Ivermectin was discovered in 1974 when a bacteria found in some soil in Japan was analysed and found to be very good at killing parasites [9, 10].

1981

Just seven years after its discovery, Ivermectin was introduced to treat animals across the world for parasitic infections [9].

1983

Just two years after its release, ivermectin was dubbed the “wonder drug” and became the veterinary drug of choice for many parasitic infections [10].

1982 – 1986

The World Health Organisation undertook field trials of ivermectin use in humans with onchocerciasis [10].

1987

Just 12 years after its discovery, ivermectin was authorised for human use [9, 10].

2015

The Nobel prize for Physiology and Medicine was awarded for the discovery of Ivermectin, along with another anti-malarial drug [11].

Ivermectin continues to be used by vets and doctors to treat animals and humans with parasitic infections. You can read more about the usage of ivermectin in animals and humans here, and learn more about how it kills parasites here.

More recently, ivermectin has gained attention for its potential use to treat COVID-19 [12]. You can learn more about ivermectin as a potential drug to treat COVID-19 here.

It is debated as to whether resistance against ivermectin is developing [10, 13]. As such, future treatments for parasitic infections may still need to be found.

More recently, the safety profile of Ivermectin has been questioned. Further research in vitro questions how safe ivermectin truly is, especially for human use [14, 15]. You can learn more about the need for a review for the safety of ivermectin in human use here.

Along with questions about the safety of ivermectin in human use, policy related to ivermectin may soon change, as it may affect biodiversity and be damaging ecosystems [10, 16]. You can read more about potential policy changes here.