Merck, the manufacturers of ivermectin, a drug recently approved by the Zimbabwean government for “investigational” COVID-19 treatment, has said there is no proof that the drug works against the viral disease.
In a statement yesterday, Merck said its scientists continue to carefully examine the findings of all available and emerging studies of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 for evidence of efficacy and safety.
The company said that to date, there is no scientific evidence showing that ivermectin has a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19. It said:
No scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies… no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 disease, and… a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies.
We do not believe that the data available support the safety and efficacy of ivermectin beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information.
Last Friday Chief Coordinator of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, confirmed that the government had approved the use of Ivermectin, that is the kind for humans.
She said the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients will be done in controlled environments to avoid indiscriminate prescription and dispensing of the medicine.