Widely Available Anti-Parasitic Drug Kills Coronavirus In 48 Hours, New Research Claims

A new study claims to have found an anti-parasitic drug that can kill the Coronavirus present in a host cell completely within 48 hours. As per the study, there is a “significant reduction” in the virus cells within 24 hours of the using the drug. The best part is, the drug is already available widely throughout the world.

A joint work of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, the study highlights Ivermectin as the drug to stop the COVID-19 virus growing in cell culture. The rate of the results as observed in the study was quite impressive as well.

(Representative Image Reuters)

For those unaware, Ivermectin is an FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug that is also proven effective against viruses including HIV, dengue and influenza. It is, however, yet unknown as to how Ivermectin works on the virus. For now, it is assumed that the drug stops the virus from dampening the host cells’ ability to fight it.

“We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA (effectively removed all genetic material of the virus) by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it,” Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s Dr Kylie Wagstaff.

(Representative Image: Reuters)

With the study already published in Antiviral Research, the next step for the researchers is to find out the correct human dosage for the anti-parasitic drug. “Realistically it’s going to be a while before a vaccine is broadly available,” said Dr Wagstaff. Before being used in the fight against COVID-19, Ivermectin has to get through pre-clinical testing and clinical trials for which funding is required.

A factor that might help with the timeline is the global availability of the drug. Since it is already in use in several countries, the supply chain for the transportation of the drug will not have to be put in place once the drug is ready for us.

A similar case study was made for?Chloroquine, a treatment for Malaria since decades, to be tested as the wonder drug against COVID-19. Here is how the drug got to be chosen for the same.

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