Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has met with a team of Nigerian professors and scientists investigating the roles that Ivermectin, a drug, can possibly play in the treatment of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, on Tuesday.
According to Akande, Osinbajo was briefed on Monday on the report by a team of scientists led by the principal investigator, Prof Femi Babalola; and the Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof Chris Bode.
The statement noted that the report, which has Nigerian scholars at home and abroad as members, has submitted the report on the usefulness of the drug to the World Health Organisation, which has already appointed a peer review expert from the United Kingdom, as well as to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The presidential aide quoted the Vice President as expressing excitement that Nigeria and Nigerians “are at the cutting edge of scientific research into the COVID-19 treatment”.
The statement read: “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 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.”
According to the statement, 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.
The study indicated that Clinical trials of Ivermectin have been carried out in at least 21 countries worldwide, including Nigeria.
It also 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.
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”.
It, however, emphasised 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.”
While commending the efforts of the team, 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, according to the statement, are Babalola, Bode, Prof Lanre Adeyemo, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at LUTH; Prof Adesuyi Ajayi, a US-based clinical pharmacologist; two project virologists: Prof. S.A Omilabu and Dr. Olumuyiwa Salu; and the Project Coordinator, Dr. Felix Alakaloko.
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