Ivermectin is an FDA-approved anti-parasitic agent which was also proven to exert antiviral activities toward both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and dengue virus.
It can dissociate the preformed IMPα/β1 heterodimer, which is responsible for nuclear transport of viral protein cargos. As nuclear transport of viral proteins is essential for the replication cycle and inhibition of the host’s antiviral response, targeting the nuclear transport process may be a viable therapeutic approach toward RNA viruses. Recently, an in vivo study has proven Ivermectin’s capability to reduce viral RNA up to 5,000-fold after 48 h of infection with SARS-CoV-2. With an established safety profile for anti-parasitic use, the next step to prove Ivermectin’s efficacy on treating COVID-19 involves trials to figure out the adequate dosing.
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