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Oxford University explores anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment

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Reuters

<p>The University of Oxford said on Wednesday it was testing anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a possible treatment for COVID-19, as part of a British government-backed study that aims to aid recoveries in non-hospital settings.</p><p>Ivermectin resulted in a reduction of virus replication in laboratory studies, the university said, adding that a small pilot showed giving the drug early could reduce viral load and the duration of symptoms in some patients with mild COVID-19.</p><p>Dubbed PRINCIPLE, the British study in January showed that antibiotics azithromycin and doxycycline were generally ineffective against early-stage COVID-19.</p><p>While the World Health Organization, and European and U.S. regulators have recommended against using ivermectin in COVID-19 patients, it is being used to treat the illness in some countries, including India.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/02/21/who-joins-europe-merck-in-recommending-against-ivermectin-for-covid-19">WHO joins Europe, Merck in recommending against ivermectin for COVID-19</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/13/21/to-fight-covid-19-indian-states-turn-to-ivermectin-against-who-advice">To fight COVID-19, Indian states turn to ivermectin against WHO advice</a></li></ul><p>&quot;By including ivermectin in a large-scale trial like PRINCIPLE, we hope to generate robust evidence to determine how effective the treatment is against COVID-19, and whether there are benefits or harms associated with its use,&quot; co-lead investigator of the trial Chris Butler said.</p><p>People with severe liver conditions, who are on blood-thinning medication warfarin, or taking other treatments known to interact with ivermectin, will be excluded from the trial, the university added.</p><p>Ivermectin is the seventh treatment to be investigated in the trial, and is currently being evaluated alongside antiviral drug favipiravir, the university said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QTXDjLqqeos?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The University of Oxford said on Wednesday it was testing anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a possible treatment for COVID-19, as part of a British government-backed study that aims to aid recoveries in non-hospital settings.</p>

The University of Oxford said on Wednesday it was testing anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a possible treatment for COVID-19, as part of a British government-backed study that aims to aid recoveries in non-hospital settings.