Brief History of Ivermectin's Medical Use

Ivermectin has a long and fascinating past as one of the most essential medicines in modern world health.

• Japanese scientist Satoshi Ōmura and American parasitologist William C. Campbell found it in 1975.
• It originates from a bacterium called Streptomyces avermitilis, which was discovered in the soil near a Japanese golf course.
• It was initially developed for veterinarians to treat parasitic diseases in farm animals and pets.
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Human Use and Effects on the World

Ivermectin was made safe for human use in the late 1980s to combat onchocerciasis (also known as "river blindness") and lymphatic filariasis. These two debilitating parasitic diseases affect a significant number of people in Africa and Latin America.

• It was used in a lot of mass drug administration schemes, which helped get rid of river blindness in a lot of places.
• The World Health Organisation calls it a "wonder drug" because it is safe, works well, and is easy to use.
• Over the years, experts have explored the potential use of Ivermectin for treating conditions beyond parasitic infections. They have explored how it could be used to treat conditions such as rosacea, head lice, and viral diseases like COVID-19. However, these uses are still controversial and are not allowed in the UK.