Mectizan Expert Committee Statement on the Potential Efficacy of Ivermectin on COVID-19:

A report by Caly et al. found that ivermectin has shown in vitro activity against SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) in tissue culture with Vero-hSLAM cells [1]. (1/4)

However, the high concentration of ivermectin needed to produce anti-viral effects in laboratory tissue culture is far beyond dosage levels approved by the FDA for treatment of parasites in humans and known to be safe and well tolerated. (2/4)

Furthermore, the concentration is many times higher than dosage levels ever tested in humans. High doses in animal models have produced serious toxicity. (3/4)

These preliminary laboratory findings in tissue cultures are not sufficient to indicate that ivermectin will be of clinical benefit to reduce viral loads in COVID-19 patients. (4/4)

Article Referenced:
1. Caly, L., et al., The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Antiviral research, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104787