Elsevier

Antiviral Research

Volume 178, June 2020, 104787
Antiviral Research

The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104787Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Ivermectin is an inhibitor of the COVID-19 causative virus (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro.

  • A single treatment able to effect ~5000-fold reduction in virus at 48 h in cell culture.

  • Ivermectin is FDA-approved for parasitic infections, and therefore has a potential for repurposing.

  • Ivermectin is widely available, due to its inclusion on the WHO model list of essential medicines.

Abstract

Although several clinical trials are now underway to test possible therapies, the worldwide response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been largely limited to monitoring/containment. We report here that Ivermectin, an FDA-approved anti-parasitic previously shown to have broad-spectrum anti-viral activity in vitro, is an inhibitor of the causative virus (SARS-CoV-2), with a single addition to Vero-hSLAM cells 2 h post infection with SARS-CoV-2 able to effect ~5000-fold reduction in viral RNA at 48 h. Ivermectin therefore warrants further investigation for possible benefits in humans.

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The authors would like readers to be aware of the following letter issued by the FDA titled: “Do Not Use Ivermectin Intended for Animals as Treatment for COVID-19 in Humans” at https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/product-safety-information/fda-letter-stakeholders-do-not-use-ivermectin-intended-animals-treatment-covid-19-humans.