A team of Nigerian professors and scientists investigating the effectiveness of Ivermectin drug in the treatment of the coronavirus disease yesterday submitted its report to the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo in Aso Villa, Abuja.
Members of the group named IVERCOVID Research Group are the principal investigator, ophthalmologist and surgeon, Prof. Femi Babalola; chief medical director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), Prof. Chris Bode; chairman of the medical advisory council at LUTH, Prof. Lanre Adeyemo; a US-based clinical pharmacologist, Prof. Adesuyi Ajayi; two project virologists: Prof. S.A Omilabu and Dr. Olumuyiwa Salu as well as the project coordinator, Dr. Felix Alakaloko.
The report entitled ‘A randomised controlled trial for the repurposing of Ivermectin in the management of COVID-19’ was also submitted to the World Health Organisation which had already appointed a peer review expert from the United Kingdom.
Speaking while being briefed on the report by a team of scientists led by Prof. Femi Babalola, the principal investigator, Osinbajo expressed excitement that Nigeria and Nigerians “are at the cutting edge of scientific research into the COVID-19 treatment.”
“We have an opportunity here and I am so fascinated to hear this drug has been used in the treatment of River Blindness in this country,” he said.
While commending the efforts of the team, Osinbajo stated that with the report, Nigeria is at an advantage both in knowledge and availability of the drug, especially since Ivermectin has been found useful not only in the treatment of COVID-19, but also as a prophylactic medication.
He disclosed that the federal government will explore further ways to support the research for the benefit of Nigerians and humanity generally, while also advancing the effective funding of scientific research in the country.
Responding, both Babalola and Bode commended the federal government for encouraging the research and thanked the vice president for his personal role and support.
The research, carried out at LUTH was undertaken following the report of a 5,000-fold reduction in viral load by Australian workers with in-vitro use of Ivermectin on COVID-19 in culture.
The PI has worked extensively with Ivermectin on the onchocerciasis-river blindness control programme, through which many Nigerians have used Ivermectin.
The study revealed that the mechanism of action of Ivermectin, include “inhibiting viral entry into cell’s nucleus; and “direct suppression of viral RNA load of SARS CoV 2,” among others.
Ivermectin is orally absorbed with higher absorption as a solution better than tablets, and ‘the mean residence time’ (MRT) is 3.4 days. This informs the suggested frequency of twice weekly dose.
The research’s Null hypothesis noted that: “Safe doses of Ivermectin are not useful in the treatment of patients with virology proven COVD-19 disease, does not lower viral load, and does not shorten time to negativity, neither does it cause improvement in clinical parameters when compared to Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Placebo.”
But its alternative hypothesis revealed that, “Safe doses of Ivermectin are useful in the treatment of patients with virology proven COVID-19 disease, lowering viral load, shortening time to negativity, and causing improvement in clinical parameters when compared with Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Placebo.”
In its results so far, the study noted that the randomisation was effective based on distribution of age, sex and some clinical presentation at baseline such as cough and fever.
The overall results showed that the “days-to-negative (DTN) reduced by 3.8 days overall, while a few patients are negative by day two, 50 per cent are negative by day 5.”
The study indicated that clinical trials of Ivermectin have been carried out in at least 21 countries worldwide, including Nigeria. It referenced the “meta-analysis of clinical trials of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 infection” by Dr. Andrew Hill, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, UK.
Highlighting the practical applications, the study proposed that “Ivermectin should be considered for adoption into the uniform treatment guidelines of COVID- 19 in Nigeria,” noting the “potential use of Ivermectin as prophylaxis pending the rollout of vaccination programmes or alongside it.”
However, the Study emphasised that Ivermectin “is not meant to replace other COVID-19 measures such as social distancing, face masking and hygiene, or vaccinations,” adding that, “it is possibly an additional tool which can be deployed to fight the pandemic.”
The group stated that it had forwarded a report of its findings to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
