Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has welcomed the report of a team of Nigerian professors and scientists investigating the efficacy of, and roles, that Ivermectin can play in the treatment of the Coronavirus disease.
A release from the Office of the Vice President said that the team, composed of Nigerian scholars at home and abroad, has also submitted their report on the usefulness of the drug to the World Health Organisation, WHO, which has already appointed a Peer Review expert from the United Kingdom.
The release said that the vice president was briefed on Tuesday by the team led by Prof. Femi Babalola, the Principal investigator, and Prof. Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH.
The study carried out by the team 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 administered with higher absorption as a solution better than tablets, and “The Mean Residence Time” (MRT) is 3.4 days.
The Vice President Osinbajo 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, Prof. 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 would 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, Prof. Femi Babalola, an Ophthalmologist and surgeon; the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode; the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at LUTH, Prof. Lanre Adeyemo; a US-based Clinical Pharmacologist, Prof. Adesuyi Ajayi; two project virologists: Prof. S.A Omilabu and Dr. Olumuyiwa Salu; and also the Project Coordinator, Dr. Felix Alakaloko.
Both Prof. 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.”
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.
Dominica Nwabufo
