Japan's Kowa says ivermectin effective against Omicron in phase III trial
31/01/2022 08:03
TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Japanese trading and
pharmaceutical company Kowa Co Ltd 7807.T 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 https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/joni-mitchell-removes-music-spotify-over-vaccine-misinformation-2022-01-29.
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.
(Reporting by Sam Nussey and Rocky Swift;
Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
((sam.nussey@tr.com;))