Ivermectin not approved for human use
JEMIMA BEUKES
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has cautioned against the use of Ivermectin for Covid-19 infection, saying this drug is registered in Namibia only for veterinary purposes.
Namibian Sun has reliably learnt that local medical doctors are currently using this drug to treat their patients.
Johannes #Gaeseb, the registrar of the Namibian Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC), this week said he had not received any formal complaint but heard rumours of the drug being prescribed for humans.
“I am not aware of doctors prescribing this drug, I only heard the stories but I am not aware of doctors prescribing the drug. If that is so, I am not sure if they are using the animal product, compounding it for human use or whether they have illegally brought in those drugs,” he said.
#Gaeseb pointed out that no clear conclusion can be drawn from currently available data on the clinical efficacy and safety of Ivermectin in the treatment of Covid-19.
He added that robust evidence is required from adequately powered, well-designed and well-conducted clinical trials for this drug to be approved for human use.
Not approved
#Gaeseb also said there are currently no recommendations for the use of Ivermectin in Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs) the NMCR aligns with.
“The NMCR prohibits the compounding of Ivermectin for Covid-19 infections. In addition, the Council warns against the use of veterinary formulations in humas as their safety and effectiveness has only been evaluated in the particular animal species for which they are labelled,” he said.
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic agent for both human and veterinary use. In humans it is used to treat tropical diseases as well as lice and scabies.
It is widely used to treat parasites in animals.
[email protected]
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has cautioned against the use of Ivermectin for Covid-19 infection, saying this drug is registered in Namibia only for veterinary purposes.
Namibian Sun has reliably learnt that local medical doctors are currently using this drug to treat their patients.
Johannes #Gaeseb, the registrar of the Namibian Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC), this week said he had not received any formal complaint but heard rumours of the drug being prescribed for humans.
“I am not aware of doctors prescribing this drug, I only heard the stories but I am not aware of doctors prescribing the drug. If that is so, I am not sure if they are using the animal product, compounding it for human use or whether they have illegally brought in those drugs,” he said.
#Gaeseb pointed out that no clear conclusion can be drawn from currently available data on the clinical efficacy and safety of Ivermectin in the treatment of Covid-19.
He added that robust evidence is required from adequately powered, well-designed and well-conducted clinical trials for this drug to be approved for human use.
Not approved
#Gaeseb also said there are currently no recommendations for the use of Ivermectin in Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs) the NMCR aligns with.
“The NMCR prohibits the compounding of Ivermectin for Covid-19 infections. In addition, the Council warns against the use of veterinary formulations in humas as their safety and effectiveness has only been evaluated in the particular animal species for which they are labelled,” he said.
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic agent for both human and veterinary use. In humans it is used to treat tropical diseases as well as lice and scabies.
It is widely used to treat parasites in animals.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article