A large U.S. study has found that a controversial drug used to treat COVID-19 has failed to reduce hospitalizations. However, a professor at the University of Minnesota says researchers are still studying its effectiveness.
The drug in question is Ivermectin, and Dr. David Boulware, an infectious disease researcher, shared that this latest study is the second to have a large trial showing little to no benefit from taking the drug.
The study was conducted by researchers at Duke University and Vanderbilt University. It had more than 1,591 participants.
Boulware said that the study was looking to answer two questions, whether the drug helped patients get better and if it helped stop deterioration.
But the study found that along with not reducing hospitalizations, the anti-parasitic drug did not help shorten symptoms of COVID-19, despite the belief from some that it does.
The drug has been gracing headlines for nearly two years now as many searched for answers other than COVID-19 vaccines.
Its popularity also grew when Podcaster Joe Rogan tested positive for the virus last year and began taking the drug, which some news outlets claimed was horse dewormer.
Even with the study's results not favoring the drug's use, Boulware shared that another study is underway looking at taking larger doses of the drug for more extended periods of time.
The study is open to anyone who would like to join, and Boulware says that those who want to participate need to have tested positive for COVID-19 and had symptoms for less than seven days.
"People can participate anywhere in the country," Boulware said.
For more information, visit the study's website here.
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