a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suit tests a swab sample for
COVID-19 at a primary health centre on September 3, 2020. NOAH
SEELAM / AFP
A team of Nigerian professors and scientists, named
IVERCOVID Research Group, has investigated the effectiveness and
roles that the Ivermectin drug can play in the treatment of
coronavirus.
This was revealed in a statement on Tuesday by Mr Laolu Akande,
the media aide to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
He noted that the team, which comprised Nigerian scholars at
home and abroad, has also submitted its report on the usefulness of
the drug to the World Health Organisation (WHO) which has already
appointed a Peer Review expert from the United Kingdom.
Akande disclosed that the health experts briefed Professor
Osinbajo who welcomed the efforts by the team on Monday.
The group is led by a Principal Investigator, Professor Femi
Babalola, and the Chief Medical Director of Lagos University
Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Chris Bode.
Its members are Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at
LUTH, Professor Lanre Adeyemo; a United State-based clinical
pharmacologist, Professor Adesuyi Ajayi; two project virologists –
Professor S.A Omilabu and Dr Olumuyiwa Salu; and the Project
Coordinator, Dr Felix Alakaloko.
FINDINGS
In its findings, the research revealed that the mechanism of
action of Ivermectin includes “inhibiting viral entry into cells’
nucleus”; and “direct suppression of viral RNA load of SARS CoV 2,”
among others.Ivermectin is orally absorbed with higher absorption as a
solution better than tablets, and “The Mean Residence Time” (MRT)
is 3.4 days. This informs the suggested frequency of dosing, i.e.
twice a week.The research’s Null hypothesis noted that: “Safe doses of
Ivermectin are not useful in the treatment of patients with
virology proven COVD-19 disease, does not lower viral load, and
does not shorten time to negativity, neither does it cause
improvement in clinical parameters when compared to
Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Placebo.”But its Alternative Hypothesis revealed that “Safe doses of
Ivermectin are useful in the treatment of patients with virology
proven COVID-19 disease, lowering the viral load, shortening time
to negativity, and causing improvement in clinical parameters when
compared with Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Placebo.”
RESULTS
In its results so far, the study noted that the randomisation
was effective based on the distribution of age, sex, and some
clinical presentation at baselines such as cough and fever.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The overall results showed that the “Days-To-Negative (DTN)
reduced by 3.8 days overall. While a few patients are negative by
day two, 50 per cent are negative by day 5.”The study indicated that Clinical trials of Ivermectin have been
carried out in at least 21 countries worldwide, including Nigeria.
It referenced the “Meta-analysis of clinical trials of Ivermectin
to treat COVID-19 infection” by Dr. Andrew Hill, Department of
Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, UK.Highlighting the practical applications, the Study proposed that
“Ivermectin should be considered for adoption into the uniform
treatment guidelines of COVID- 19 in Nigeria,” noting the
“potential use of ivermectin as prophylaxis Pending the rollout of
vaccination programs or alongside it.”However, the Study emphasised that Ivermectin “is not meant to
replace other COVID-19 measures such as social distancing, face
masking, and hygiene, or vaccinations,” adding that, “It is
possibly an additional tool which can be deployed to fight the
pandemic.”
The group stated that it has forwarded a report of its findings,
titled “A randomised controlled trial for the repurposing
of Ivermectin in the management of COVID-19,” to the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC).
President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
In his remarks, the vice president was excited that Nigeria and
Nigerians were at the cutting edge of scientific research into the
COVID-19 treatment.
“We have an opportunity here and I am so fascinated to hear this
drug has been used in the treatment of River Blindness in this
country,” he was quoted as saying.
Professor Osinbajo believes that with the report, Nigeria is at
an advantage both in knowledge and availability of the drug,
especially since Ivermectin has been found useful not only in the
treatment of COVID-19 but also as a preventive medication.
He stated that the Federal Government would further explore ways
to support the research for the benefit of Nigerians and humanity
generally, while also advancing the effective funding of scientific
research in the country.