Document type
ArticleVersion
Published versionPublication date
Publication license
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/185016
Nebulized ivermectin for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases, a proof of concept, dose-ranging study in rats.
Journal Title
Director/Tutor
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Related resource
Abstract
"Ivermectin is a widely used antiparasitic drug with known efficacy against several single-strain RNA viruses. Recent data shows significant
reduction of SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by ivermectin
concentrations not achievable with safe doses orally. Inhaled
therapy has been used with success for other antiparasitics. An
ethanol-based ivermectin formulation was administered once to 14
rats using a nebulizer capable of delivering particles with
alveolar deposition. Rats were randomly assigned into three
target dosing groups, lower dose (80-90\xC2\xA0mg/kg), higher
dose (110-140\xC2\xA0mg/kg) or ethanol vehicle only. A
toxicology profile including behavioral and weight monitoring,
full blood count, biochemistry, necropsy and histological
examination of the lungs was conducted. The pharmacokinetic
profile of ivermectin in plasma and lungs was determined in all
animals. There were no relevant changes in behavior or body
weight. There was a delayed elevation in muscle enzymes
compatible with rhabdomyolysis, that was also seen in the
control group and has been attributed to the ethanol dose which
was up to 11\xC2\xA0g/kg in some animals. There were no
histological anomalies in the lungs of any rat. Male animals
received a higher ivermectin dose adjusted by adipose weight and
reached higher plasma concentrations than females in the same
dosing group (mean C" - " 86.2\xC2\xA0ng/ml vs.
26.2\xC2\xA0ng/ml in the lower dose group and 152\xC2\xA0ng/ml
vs. 51.8\xC2\xA0ng/ml in the higher dose group). All subjects
had detectable ivermectin concentrations in the lungs at seven
days post intervention, up to 524.3\xC2\xA0ng/g for high-dose
male and 27.3\xC2\xA0ng/g for low-dose females. nebulized
ivermectin can reach pharmacodynamic concentrations in the lung
tissue of rats, additional experiments are required to assess
the safety of this formulation in larger animals."
Subject
Subject (English)
Citation
Collections
Citation
CHACCOUR, Carlos, et al. Nebulized ivermectin for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases, a proof of concept, dose-ranging study in rats. Scientific Reports. 2020. Vol. 10. ISSN 2045-2322. [consulted: 15 of August of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/185016