Antiparasitic drug kills coronavirus in 48 hours, study reveals.
Australian scientists have demonstrated that the antiparasitic drug ivermectin can eliminate the COVID-19 virus in just 48 hours. However, until now, only in vitro tests have been conducted, meaning tests outside of living systems, in a controlled laboratory environment.
Sputnik - Australian scientists have demonstrated that the antiparasitic drug ivermectin can eliminate the COVID-19 virus in just 48 hours.
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug that has been shown to be effective in vitro against a wide variety of viruses, including HIV, dengue fever, influenza, and the Zika virus.
"We discovered that a single dose could essentially eliminate all viral RNA "Within 48 hours, and even within 24 hours there was a really significant reduction," said Kylie Wagstaff, the scientist who led the study. writes Science Daily portal.
Until now, only in vitro tests have been carried out, that is, outside of living systems, in a controlled and closed laboratory environment. conducting tests on people This would be the next step in the investigation.
"Ivermectin is widely used and considered a safe medication. Now we need to find out if the dose that can be used in humans will be effective; that's the next step," the researcher explained.
It is worth noting that the mechanism by which ivermectin kills the virus is not yet known. Based on its effects on other viruses, it is likely that the drug prevents the virus from diminishing the ability of host cells to eliminate it.
The use of ivermectin for to combat the new coronavirus It would depend on the results of further pre-clinical trials and, ultimately, clinical trials.
The study is led by the Institute for Discovery in Biomedicine at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.