Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19
Due to the rapid, vast, and emerging global spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many drugs were quickly repurposed in a desperate attempt to unveil a miracle drug. Ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic macrocyclic lactone, was tested and confirmed for its in vitro antiviral acti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/9/1068 |
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| author | Hoda Awad Basmala Hassan Sara Dweek Yasmeen Aboelata Mutasem Rawas-Qalaji Iman Saad Ahmed |
| author_facet | Hoda Awad Basmala Hassan Sara Dweek Yasmeen Aboelata Mutasem Rawas-Qalaji Iman Saad Ahmed |
| author_sort | Hoda Awad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to the rapid, vast, and emerging global spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many drugs were quickly repurposed in a desperate attempt to unveil a miracle drug. Ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic macrocyclic lactone, was tested and confirmed for its in vitro antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in early 2020. Along with its potential antiviral activity, the affordability and availability of IVM resulted in a wide public interest. Across the world, trials have put IVM to test for both the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19, as well as its potential role in combination therapy. Additionally, the targeted delivery of IVM was studied in animals and COVID-19 patients. Through this conducted literature review, the potential value and effectiveness of the repurposed antiparasitic agent in the ongoing global emergency were summarized. The reviewed trials suggested a value of IVM as a treatment in mild COVID-19 cases, though the benefit was not extensive. On the other hand, IVM efficacy as a prophylactic agent was more evident and widely reported. In the most recent trials, novel nasal formulations of IVM were explored with the hope of an improved optimized effect. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f460bfff60c44c6b2b9a044f3159ae3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f460bfff60c44c6b2b9a044f3159ae32023-11-23T18:18:00ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472022-08-01159106810.3390/ph15091068Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19Hoda Awad0Basmala Hassan1Sara Dweek2Yasmeen Aboelata3Mutasem Rawas-Qalaji4Iman Saad Ahmed5Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesDue to the rapid, vast, and emerging global spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many drugs were quickly repurposed in a desperate attempt to unveil a miracle drug. Ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic macrocyclic lactone, was tested and confirmed for its in vitro antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in early 2020. Along with its potential antiviral activity, the affordability and availability of IVM resulted in a wide public interest. Across the world, trials have put IVM to test for both the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19, as well as its potential role in combination therapy. Additionally, the targeted delivery of IVM was studied in animals and COVID-19 patients. Through this conducted literature review, the potential value and effectiveness of the repurposed antiparasitic agent in the ongoing global emergency were summarized. The reviewed trials suggested a value of IVM as a treatment in mild COVID-19 cases, though the benefit was not extensive. On the other hand, IVM efficacy as a prophylactic agent was more evident and widely reported. In the most recent trials, novel nasal formulations of IVM were explored with the hope of an improved optimized effect.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/9/1068ivermectinCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2coronavirusdrug repurposing |
| spellingShingle | Hoda Awad Basmala Hassan Sara Dweek Yasmeen Aboelata Mutasem Rawas-Qalaji Iman Saad Ahmed Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19 Pharmaceuticals ivermectin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus drug repurposing |
| title | Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19 |
| title_full | Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19 |
| title_short | Repurposing Potential of the Antiparasitic Agent Ivermectin for the Treatment and/or Prophylaxis of COVID-19 |
| title_sort | repurposing potential of the antiparasitic agent ivermectin for the treatment and or prophylaxis of covid 19 |
| topic | ivermectin COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus drug repurposing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/9/1068 |
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