Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) — Local manufacturers have asked the Food and Drug Administration to allow the “compassionate use” of antiparasitic drug Ivermectin to treat COVID-19, government officials confirmed on Monday.
If the FDA grants the compassionate use permit application, doctors or hospitals can use the unregistered drug in doses to be specified by the government agency.
“Pwede na po i-process ‘yan ng FDA. Antayin na lang po natin ang aksyon ng FDA sa mga naisampa ng aplikasyon [FDA can process it. Let’s wait for the decision on the application],” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Currently, Ivermectin is only approved for veterinary use to prevent heartworm disease in animals. It is also a drug for parasite infestation such as head lice and scabies.
However, a group of businessmen recently appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress for the government to consider repurposing the drug to prevent and treat COVID-19 infections. Several lawmakers also pushed the FDA to take the initiative of conducting a clinical study on Ivermectin.
The FDA, Health Department, and World Health Organization have warned against using it on COVID-19 patients, saying trials conducted in other countries did not show positive results.
“We have very clearly come out with a statement backed by the European Medical Association, the US FDA, and the manufacturer of Ivermectin, that Ivermectin has not proven efficacy against COVID-19. Even if they look at it from a preventive perspective there’s no evidence that supports it,” WHO country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said.
Even Merck, the company behind the drug Ivermectin, said there is no basis in using it as a treatment for COVID-19.
