₦airaland Forum

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has welcomed efforts by a team of Nigerian professors and scientists investigating the effectiveness of, and roles that Ivermectin drug can play in the treatment of the Coronavirus disease.

The team, which is composed of Nigerian scholars at home and abroad, has also submitted their report on the usefulness of the drug to the World Health Organisation which has already appointed a Peer Review expert from the United Kingdom.

Speaking Tuesday while being briefed on the report by a team of scientists led by Femi Babalola, the Principal investigator, and Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, the Vice President expressed excitement that Nigeria and Nigerians “are at the cutting edge of scientific research into the COVID-19 treatment.”

According to him, “we have an opportunity here and I am so fascinated to hear this drug has been used in the treatment of River Blindness in this country.”

While commending the efforts of the team, Mr Osinbajo added that with the report, Nigeria is at an advantage both in knowledge and availability of the drug, especially since Ivermectin has been found useful not only in the treatment of COVID-19, but also as a prophylactic medication.

He disclosed that the Federal Government will explore further ways to support the research for the benefit of Nigerians and humanity generally, while also advancing the effective funding of scientific research in the country.

Members of the group named IVERCOVID Research Group are the Principal Investigator, Femi Babalola, an Ophthalmologist and surgeon; the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Chris Bode; the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at LUTH, Lanre Adeyemo; a US-based Clinical Pharmacologist, Adesuyi Ajayi; two project virologists: S.A Omilabu and Olumuyiwa Salu; and also the Project Coordinator, Felix Alakaloko.

Both Mr Babalola and the CMD, LUTH commended the Buhari Presidency for encouraging the research and thanked the Vice President for his personal role and support.

The report is titled, “A randomised controlled trial for the repurposing of Ivermectin in the management of COVID-19,” and highlights are discussed below:

The research, carried out in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) was undertaken following the report of a 5,000-fold reduction in viral load by Australian workers with in-vitro use of Ivermectin on COVID-19 in culture.

The PI has worked extensively with Ivermectin on the Onchocerciasis-River Blindness control programme, through which many Nigerians have used Ivermectin.


FINDINGS

The study revealed that the mechanism of action of Ivermectin, include “Inhibiting viral entry into cells nucleus; and “Direct suppression of viral RNA load of SARS CoV 2,” among others.

Ivermectin is orally absorbed with higher absorption as a solution better than tablets, and “The Mean Residence Time” (MRT) is 3.4 days. This informs the suggested frequency of dosing, i.e. twice a week.

The research’s Null hypothesis noted that: “Safe doses of Ivermectin are not useful in the treatment of patients with virology proven COVD-19 disease, does not lower viral load, and does not shorten time to negativity, neither does it cause improvement in clinical parameters when compared to Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Placebo.”

But its Alternative Hypothesis revealed that, “Safe doses of Ivermectin are useful in the treatment of patients with virology proven COVID-19 disease, lowering viral load, shortening time to negativity, and causing improvement in clinical parameters when compared with Lopinavir/Ritonavir/Placebo.”

RESULTS

In its results so far, the Study noted that the randomisation was effective based on distribution of age, sex and some clinical presentation at baseline such as cough and fever.

The overall results showed that the “Days-To-Negative (DTN) reduced by 3.8 days overall. While a few patients are negative by day two, 50 per cent are negative by day 5.”

The study indicated that Clinical trials of Ivermectin have been carried out in at least 21 countries worldwide, including Nigeria. It referenced the “Meta-analysis of clinical trials of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 infection” by Dr. Andrew Hill, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, UK.

Highlighting the practical applications, the Study proposed that “Ivermectin should be considered for adoption into the uniform treatment guidelines of COVID- 19 in Nigeria,” noting the “potential use of ivermectin as prophylaxis Pending the rollout of vaccination programs or alongside it.”

However, the Study emphasized that Ivermectin “is not meant to replace other COVID-19 measures such as social distancing, face masking and hygiene, or vaccinations,” adding that, “It is possibly an additional tool which can be deployed to fight the pandemic.”

The group stated that it has forwarded a report of its findings to NAFDAC.

https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/nigerian-scientists-osinbajo-potential-drug-coronavirus-339437

I think Ivermectin should be considered for adoption into the uniform treatment guidelines of COVID- 19...since our researchers have made some headways on this particular drug.

First to begin with, Do we have scientists in Nigeria?

Small small..naso other countries own start.nice one...but,i no go allow members of my family take am.

Fahdiga:
First to begin with, Do we have scientists in Nigeria?

We do... Albeit, many of them are half-baked... Products of a terrible system of government.

Scam.. There's nothing like scientist in Nigeria...

Dis ones jus wan follow others come out... Others who have come up with cures and vaccines had access to all the funding dey needed to pay for research and trials.. As usual dey are copying and reporting other ppl's research

That's a good one, I hope we have an indigenous vaccine

Then please don't realise the production funds to our figure people. You see, immediately they know the vaccine is coming they started getting the figures.

firstly I give kudos to our medical researchers and professors on the effectively of Ivermectin in combating the deadly virus called covid-19, and with time we will not express Coronavirus Pandemic again

internationalman:
Scam.. There's nothing like scientist in Nigeria...

I have been noticing you and everything is a scam at your sight ,mtchewwww

Nbotee:
Dis ones jus wan follow others come out... Others who have come up with cures and vaccines had access to all the funding dey needed to pay for research and trials.. As usual dey are copying and reporting other ppl's research

Hmmmmmmmm,NAIJA guys with complain

Fahdiga:
First to begin with, Do we have scientists in Nigeria?

Yes we have and I'm one of scientists who treats

This is a welcome developments and the vaccine will soon available for all even at the reduced or no cost rate

okefranci:
Hmmmmmmmm,NAIJA guys with complain

Read the post and stop celebrating mediocrity. Their investigation and report is based on a research done by others. All our scientists and professors here know how to do is write theory up and down while their mates are carrying out practical clinical trials while we complain about being lab rats

Fahdiga:
First to begin with, Do we have scientists in Nigeria?

Make them no just come give us poison.
Anything to steal money.

Scientists ko, aeroplane pilot ni

The study indicated that Clinical trials of Ivermectin have been carried out in at least 21 countries worldwide, including Nigeria. It referenced the “Meta-analysis of clinical trials of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 infection” by Dr. Andrew Hill, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, UK.

I seriously doubt the efficacy of this drug because nobody knew about it even when it was tried in 21 countries.

I didn't see some facts that I looked for. For instance, did it undergo Stage-3 clinical trial? If so, what was the performance percentage?

Any vaccine that does not pass stage 3 with at least 85% pass mark is not appropriate for human consumption on a large scale.

Pfizer's vaccine reached 90% efficacy after the large-scale Stage-3 clinical trials. That's how you know safe and effective drugs.

The FDA approved it as an emergency coronavirus vaccine, believing that much better vaccines are underway.

Meanwhile, everyone involved in that Pfizer research will never know poverty in their lives again because countries are preordering it.

A welcome development. It is good to note that we have genius in our health sector

Okay...they read and analysed journal articles written by other scholars, that's not much of a break through. We need new inventions, real academic feats. The problem with this drug is that they can't be sure the results they analysed was accurate and not manipulated

Is ivermectin no longer used for scabies and some type of worms? Ivermectin is 2₦ per one soon it will fluctuate to 1500 per one

Mr Osin_bajo

Osinbajo engaging in more reasonable things than his master

okefranci:
I have been noticing you and everything is a scam at your sight ,mtchewwww

You noticing me is a scam too.