A simple treatment for COVID-19 can be cheaper than $ 20 – and known to most elementary school nurses.
Head lice drug ivermectin is being investigated as a potential treatment for the coronavirus after a promising new study that showed an 80% reduction in the number of deaths from hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Only 8 of 573 patients who received ivermectin died, compared to 44 of 510 patients who died after receiving a placebo.
A previous study of the anti-parasitic prescription drug, which costs between $ 17 and $ 43 for a course, according to GoodRx, showed promising results in April – removing all viral RNA within 48 hours of a single dose.
University of Liverpool virologist Andrew Hill has called the new study ‘transformational’ in the search for a coronavirus therapy. His findings, based on data from more than 1,400 patients, were made public in a video posted to YouTube, in which Hill discusses his results in a previously broadcast live stream. The study is currently awaiting peer review before being published.
“If we see the same trends consistently across more studies, then this is really going to be a transformational treatment,” said Hill.
However, critics called Hill’s study conclusion premature and urged further research before declaring ivermectin an effective treatment – citing other buzzing methods that ultimately didn’t work, such as hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab.
“All we have are observational studies and the opinions of clinicians,” said Professor Andrew McLachlan of the University of Sydney, the Daily Mail reported.
“Many of the current studies have a low number of participants, poor study design and inconsistent (and relatively low) ivermectin dosage regimens, often with ivermectin given in combination with other drugs.
