A Wonder Drug in the Arsenal against COVID - 19: Medication Evidence from Ivermectin
B. Suresh Kumar
Department of Medical Oncology, TATA Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Madhan Jeyaraman
Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rashmi Jain
North DMC Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, India.
Talagavadi Channaiah Anudeep *
Department of Plastic Surgery, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Ch. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Ivermectin, an FDA approved broad-spectrum anti-parasitic agent has been recently reported to show an inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 in an in-vitro study. This antiviral response has rendered it as a potential drug to be repurposed for COVID-19. Previously, ivermectin had showed inhibitory activity against RNA viruses in-vitro and DNA viruses in-vitro and in-vivo respectively. Much of its characterization has been related to SARS-CoV wherein viral proteins interacting with IMPα/β1 (Importins) were proposed to enhance the viral infectivity. These documentations serve as a ray of hope for considering ivermectin in treating COVID-19 due to its suggested nuclear transport inhibitory mechanism. Importantly, these recent findings warrant detailed investigations for understanding its benefit in terms of efficacy and safety in COVID-19 patients. This review article throws light on the current consensus in this regard.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, ivermectin