SAHPRA urges more research on Ivermectin as Covid-19 debate rages on
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has urged the medical fraternity to undertake more research on Ivermectin.
The drug is being touted as the silver bullet against the coronavirus.
The drug is widely used for the treatment and control of parasites in animals and to treat several tropical diseases.
SAHPRA based the continued ban on clinical trial data conducted by Dr Andrew Hill of the University of Liverpool, sponsored by Unitaid.
The report found:
“Preliminary findings suggest that standard doses of ivermectin would not result in efficacious concentrations and that extraordinary doses to achieve efficacious concentrations may result in unacceptable toxicity in Covid-19 patients.”
The authority’s CEO Boitumelo Semete has urged the medical fraternity to undertake more research.
But for now, human consumption of the drug in the country remains illegal.
“SAHPRA encourages the submission of clinical trial applications designed to establish the safety and efficacy of ivermectin in the management of Covid-19 infections for both treatment and prophylaxis and commits to expediting their review.”
This while lobby group AFriforum launched an urgent court bid seeking approval for the use of the drug to treat Covid-19.
SAHPRA is also set to brief the media on the use of Ivermectin on Wednesday.