Ivermectin

Ivermectin (STROMECTOL®) is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved semisynthetic, anthelmintic agent for oral administration. Ivermectin is derived from the avermectins, a class of highly active, broad-spectrum, antiparasitic agents isolated from the fermentation products of Streptomyces avermitilis. Ivermectin is a mixture containing at least 90% 5-Odemethyl-22,23-dihydroavermectin A1a and less than 10% 5-O-demethyl-25-de(1-methylpropyl)-22,23-dihydro25-(1-methylethyl)avermectin A1a, generally referred to as 22,23-dihydroavermectin B1a and B1b, or H2B1a and H2B1b, respectively.

On March 6, 2023, the FDA confirmed that Ivermectin is an approved antiparasitic drug used to treat several neglected tropical diseases, including onchocerciasis, helminthiases, scabies, and strongyloidiasis, all of which are caused by parasitic worms. Ivermectin has been widely used for these indications and is generally well tolerated. Ivermectin is usually well tolerated when used at appropriate doses for approved indications.

Ivermectin Indication

The U.S. CDC states that Ivermectin is indicated for the treatment of the following infections: Strongyloidiasis of the intestinal tract. Ivermectin is indicated for treating intestinal (i.e., non-disseminated) strongyloidiasis caused by the nematode parasite Strongyloides stercoralis. This indication is based on clinical studies of comparative and open-label designs, in which 64-100% of infected patients were cured following a single 200-mcg/kg dose of Ivermectin.

In addition, some topical forms of Ivermectin are approved to treat external parasites, such as head lice, and skin conditions like rosacea. Zydus Lifesciences Limited (formerly Cadila Healthcare Limited) received final approval from the USFDA to market Ivermectin Cream, 1% (Soolantra). Ivermectin Cream is used the treat inflammatory lesions of rosacea. Soolantra will be manufactured at the group's topical manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad, India.

Ivermectin is contraindicated for those five years of age or those weighing less than 15 kilograms and individuals with liver or kidney disease.

ivermectin Scabies

The results of a multicenter trial indicate that Ivermectin can be safely used in young children for scabies treatment. "Outcomes from the Ivermectin Safety in Small Children trial will hopefully provide greater reassurance that ivermectin can be safely used in children weighing less than 15 kilograms," lead study author Kevin Kobylinski, PhD, a University of Oxford honorary visiting research fellow with the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Bangkok, said in a press release on November 10, 2025.

Ivermectin Malaria

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 23, 2025, concluded that Ivermectin reduced the incidence of malaria by 26% in a cluster-randomized trial (BOHEMIA) conducted in Kenya, Africa. Previously, The Lancet published the results of a 2019 study. The primary analysis of this study revealed that the mean number of clinical malaria episodes per child was approximately 20% lower in the intervention group than in the control group during the 18-week treatment period. Two groups of clusters (three in Mozambique) were randomized to receive (a) ivermectin in humans, (b) ivermectin in humans + livestock (only in Mozambique), or (c) albendazole control. WHO's PPC states that the desired efficacy of an endectocide as stand-alone insecticide in areas of high to moderate transmission is at least 20% reduction in the incidence of clinical malaria (as primary outcome) and incidence of infection (as secondary outcome) in children under 5 years old (the highest incidence age-group in areas with high-transmission), lasting for at least 1 month following a single regimen.

Ivermectin Dengue

Ivermectin has been previously shown to inhibit all four dengue serotypes in vitro by blocking the host nuclear import proteins that are crucial for the nuclear localization of the dengue NS5 protein, which has RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) function. A phase 2/3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT02045069) was conducted to study the efficacy of a once-daily dose of Ivermectin 400 μg/kg for 2–3 days in adult dengue patients. Interestingly, the study reported faster NS1 antigenemia clearance upon ivermectin treatment, with no difference in viremia, viral clearance, or any beneficial clinical outcomes, including fever, DHF incidence, hospitalization, pleural effusion, hemoconcentration, or fluid requirements.

Ivermectin Use Against Human Adenoviruses

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are ubiquitous and clinically essential pathogens without an effective antiviral treatment. HAdV infections typically cause mild symptoms; however, individuals such as children, those with underlying conditions, and those with compromised immune systems can develop severe disseminated disease. One study found that Ivermectin, an FDA-approved antiparasitic agent, effectively inhibits the replication of several HAdV types in vitro.

Ivermectin Clinical Trials

Ivermectin (Stromectol, Mectizan) has been tested in over 190 clinical trials.