Japan's Kowa says ivermectin effective against Omicron in phase III trial
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 11:12 | 31 January 2022
Japanese trading and pharmaceutical company Kowa Co Ltd said on Monday anti-parasite drug ivermectin has been found effective for treating the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in a Phase III trial.
The trial found ivermectin has "an antiviral effect" against the variant, Kowa said without providing further details. The firm has been working with Kitasato University, a medical university in Tokyo.
Clinical trials evaluating the drug, which is used to treat parasites in animals and humans, are ongoing but promotion of the drug as a COVID-19 treatment has generated controversy.
The drug is not approved for treatment of COVID-19 in Japan and the U.S. Federal Drug Administration has repeatedly warned against its use.
- UK PM visits Ukraine in show of support, urges Russia to step back from conflict
- China's most used COVID shots effective against Delta variant-study
- Brazil reports 77,947 new cases of coronavirus, 284 new COVID-19 deaths-health ministry
- British foreign minister tests positive for coronavirus
- Blinken spoke to Palestinian President Abbas on Monday - State Dept