Efficacy of Single-Dose Ivermectin on Virologic and Clinical Recovery in COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic mounts an ever increasing challenge on healthcare resources. Ivermectin shows promise in in vitro studies on coronavirus, but there are few prospective trials on currently approved dosage recommendation for the treatment of COVID-19. Aims: To study the virologic and clinical recovery after single-dose ivermectin, given within first 5 days of symptom onset. Settings and design: Prospective, open-labeled, randomized controlled trial. Patients were recruited in between August 30, 2020, and November 6, 2020, at a single referral center for patients with COVID. Materials and methods: The study participants included patients presenting with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. The patients were randomized to receive a single-dose ivermectin, 0.2 mg/kg in the treatment group (TG). Both groups [TG and control group (CG)], continued to receive standard treatment. Results: The recruited cohort was comparable in the two arms of the study, except age and height. There was no statistically significant difference in virologic clearance between the two arms (percentage COVID positive day 7: TG: 34.2% vs. CG: 52.6%, P = 0.165). Conclusion: Our study shows that after administration of single dose of currently approved doses of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), there does not exist a significant virologic or clinical recovery in COVID-19 disease.