Stromectol (ivermectin) is an antiparasitic agent that can be used to treat COVID–19. It has been approved for use in the fight against the virus in several countries, including India, China and the United States. In March 2021, it was included in the recommendations for the treatment of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The main indications for use: pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2; lymphopenia — a decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood; bronchitis caused by the virus; prevention of COVID-19. The drug is prescribed for pneumonia caused by coronavirus if the patient has symptoms of respiratory failure.

In 2020, three studies were published showing that Ivermectin suppresses the replication of SARS-CoV-2. Researchers from the USA and China have found that the drug is able to reduce the viral load by 90%, as well as increase the neutralizing activity of antibodies to the virus [3, 4].

In 2019, scientists from the University of Quebec in Canada found that the use of Ivermectin significantly reduces the viral load in the lungs of patients with COVID-19 [5].

However, in May 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed Ivermectin from the list of drugs approved for the treatment of COVID-19.