The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Although several clinical trials are now underway to test possible therapies, the worldwide response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been largely limited to monitoring/containment. We report here that Ivermectin, an FDA-approved anti-parasitic previously shown to have broad-spectrum anti-viral activity...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antiviral research 2020-06, Vol.178, p.104787-104787, Article 104787
Main Authors: Caly, Leon, Druce, Julian D., Catton, Mike G., Jans, David A., Wagstaff, Kylie M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antiviral Agents - pharmacology
Australia
Betacoronavirus - drug effects
Betacoronavirus - physiology
Chlorocebus aethiops
Coronavirus Infections - drug therapy
Coronavirus Infections - virology
COVID-19
Drug Approval
Humans
Ivermectin - pharmacology
Ivermectin - therapeutic use
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral - drug therapy
Pneumonia, Viral - virology
SARS-CoV-2
Vero Cells
Virus Replication - drug effects
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Although several clinical trials are now underway to test possible therapies, the worldwide response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been largely limited to monitoring/containment. We report here that Ivermectin, an FDA-approved anti-parasitic previously shown to have broad-spectrum anti-viral activity in vitro, is an inhibitor of the causative virus (SARS-CoV-2), with a single addition to Vero-hSLAM cells 2 h post infection with SARS-CoV-2 able to effect ~5000-fold reduction in viral RNA at 48 h. Ivermectin therefore warrants further investigation for possible benefits in humans. •Ivermectin is an inhibitor of the COVID-19 causative virus (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro.•A single treatment able to effect ~5000-fold reduction in virus at 48 h in cell culture.•Ivermectin is FDA-approved for parasitic infections, and therefore has a potential for repurposing.•Ivermectin is widely available, due to its inclusion on the WHO model list of essential medicines.
ISSN:0166-3542
1872-9096
DOI:10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104787