TrumpLyftAlles | 9 points
Scientists test drug that slash COVID-19 viral load by 94% (ivermectin, Brazil)[-] TrumpLyftAlles | 2 points
Pseudo-proof that the scientists are testing ivermectin: from here
Heukelbach et al. (pp.563–579) report a study that investigates changes in parasitological parameters and the occurrence of side-effects after treatment with ivermectin in a Brazilian community heavily parasitized with intestinal helminths and ectoparasites. The trial was unblinded and uncontrolled, but provided valuable information. Community members, ineligible for ivermectin, were treated with mebendazole, albendazole or deltamethrin to achieve a high level of coverage. Of particular importance was the finding that *ivermectin was highly effective against Strongyloides stercoralis, with a 94% reduction in prevalence that was sustained for nine months. This provided field evidence for a paper that predicted that strongyloidiasis in heavily endemic communities could be successfully controlled with a highly effective drug, owing to its low transmission potential (2). The evidence presented by Heukelbach et al. adds considerably to evidence from smaller-scale controlled trials (3–6).
[-] TrumpLyftAlles | 6 points | May 17 2020 17:58:02
Probably ivermectin?
The drug isn't named.
In the next few days, Brazilian scientists are set to initiate the clinical trials of a medicine that has shown 94 percent of effectiveness in reducing the viral load in cells infected with the novel coronavirus in vitro. According to Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communications Marcos Pontes, tests will be conducted on 500 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at five hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, one in São Paulo, and one in Brasília.
The drug’s name will be disclosed after the end of the clinical research protocol, when its effectiveness and safety may be fully gauged, “in order to prevent a rash attitude towards the medicine.” However, Pontes said, it is a low-cost, well tolerated drug, also available in pediatric formulations. “Why does it matter? It has few side effects and may be used in a large portion of the population,” he pointed out.
A reason to not announce the name of the drug is to prevent a run on the stores before the drug is proven.
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[-] kunkr | 3 points | May 17 2020 18:40:01
I'd agree, I hope it is Ivermectin, but no way to be sure. It'd make sense if it's Ivermectin because I think you can just buy it over the counter there, leading to shortages if people flock to it hearing the good news.
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