Doctor: Clinical tests on Ivermectin show positive results

PUTRAJAYA, June 13 – Clinical tests carried out in the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 infection so far have showed positive results, said Dr Steven Lim Chee Loon, Infectious Disease Specialist with the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh, Perak.

Explaining the current trials being carried out to test the drug’s efficacy for treating the coronavirus, Dr Steven said a study carried out in an Australian laboratory last year showed that the Ivermectin is capable of obstructing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) CoV, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Since then, various clinical trials have been carried out to test the effectiveness of the Ivermectin in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and they have indeed indicated positive results.

All these trials have however involved only a small number of subjects, which have raised criticisms and questions on the transparency and accuracy of the methods used in the trials, Dr Steven Lim said in a video clip aired by the Health Ministry’s Facebook page today.

Major bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have to date not recommended the mass use of Ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19.

They have only recommended it for clinical trials as during such trials the subjects given Ivermectin are closely monitored by researchers and specialist doctors experienced in the treatment of COVID-19.

-WE