Ivermectin and Remdesivir: Alternative COVID-19 Treatments
Remdesivir is an antiviral medication originally developed by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to treat Ebola. Although the drug didn’t work well against that disease, it later showed promise fighting SARS and MERS — illnesses caused by coronaviruses — in animal studies, which is why researchers thought remdesivir might help fight COVID-19. | Discover Magazine
The World Health Organization has given a conditional recommendation against using remdesivir in hospitalized patients, regardless of disease seriousness, since there is currently no evidence that it enhances survival or other outcomes.
Remdesivir is currently only given to hospitalized patients with serious coronavirus infections in the Philippines. On July 1st of 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that coronavirus patients who are determined to need the investigational drug remdesivir will apply for special “compassionate permits” from the department.
The current evidence on the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients is inconclusive. Until more data is available, WHO recommends that the drug only be used within clinical trials.
This recommendation, which applies to patients with COVID-19 of any disease severity, is now part of WHO’s guidelines on COVID-19 treatments.
Ivermectin is a broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent, included in WHO essential medicines list for several parasitic diseases. It is used in the treatment of onchocerciasis (river blindness), strongyloidiasis and other diseases caused by soil transmitted helminthiasis. It is also used to treat scabies. | WHO
In Philippines, the benefits and efficacy of Ivermectin for treating COVID-19 patients have not been identified, the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration do not recommend its use.
(Ivermectin and Remdesivir, marvill.com)
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