The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro
Authors:
- Caly, Leon
- Druce, Julian D.
- Catton, Mike G.
- Jans, David A.
- Wagstaff, Kylie M.
Details:
Antiviral Research, Volume 178, 2020-06-30
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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.