Thoughts regarding the article entitled, “This drug destroys any trace of coronavirus COVID-19 in just 48 hours”

There was an article entitled, “This drug destroys any trace of coronavirus COVID-19 in just 48 hours” posted here by TweakTown.com. You cannot take the information published therein to the bank because it was garbage.

First off, Ivermectin inhibits replication of  SARSCoVin vitro (in monkey kidney cell culture) with an IC50 of 2.2 – 2.8 µM, making it a possible candidate for COVID-19 drug repurposing research. Note that the doses used in cell culture would require 104 larger doses in humans based on this data, which does not look promising as an effective treatment for Covid19. Moreover, cell culture experiments also showed promise for treating Dengue virus infection, but later failed in animal models.

On 10 April 2020, the FDA issued guidance to not use ivermectin intended for animals as treatment for COVID-19 in humans.

Mechanism of action:

Ivermectin binds selectively and with high affinity to glutamate-gated chloride ion channels in invertebrate muscle and nerve cells of the microfilaria. This binding causes an increase in the permeability of the cell membrane to chloride ions and results in hyperpolarization of the cell, leading to paralysis and death of the parasite. Ivermectin also is believed to act as an agonist of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), thereby disrupting GABA-mediated central nervous system (CNS) neurosynaptic transmission. Ivermectin may also impair normal intrauterine development of O. volvulus microfilariae and may inhibit their release from the uteri of gravid female worms.

The basis behind its mechanism of action suggests it is not a vaccine. It would absolutely not be a preventative vaccine. It could potentially be a therapeutic though.

Best wishes,

Pharmacoengineering.com