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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Dec;27(12):1743-1749.
doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2021.08.021. Epub 2021 Aug 25.

Single-dose oral ivermectin in mild and moderate COVID-19 (RIVET-COV): A single-centre randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Anant Mohan  1 , Pawan Tiwari  2 , Tejas Menon Suri  2 , Saurabh Mittal  2 , Ankit Patel  2 , Avinash Jain  2 , Thirumurthy Velpandian  3 , Ujjalkumar Subhash Das  3 , Tarun Krishna Boppana  2 , Ravindra Mohan Pandey  4 , Sushil Suresh Shelke  2 , Angel Rajan Singh  5 , Sushma Bhatnagar  6 , Shet Masih  7 , Shelly Mahajan  7 , Tanima Dwivedi  8 , Biswajeet Sahoo  8 , Anuja Pandit  6 , Shweta Bhopale  6 , Saurabh Vig  6 , Ritu Gupta  8 , Karan Madan  2 , Vijay Hadda  2 , Nishkarsh Gupta  6 , Rakesh Garg  6 , Ved Prakash Meena  9 , Randeep Guleria  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Single-dose oral ivermectin in mild and moderate COVID-19 (RIVET-COV): A single-centre randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Anant Mohan et al. J Infect Chemother. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug which has in-vitro efficacy in reducing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load. Hence, Ivermectin is under investigation as a repurposed agent for treating COVID-19.

Methods: In this pilot, double blind, randomized controlled trial, hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 were assigned to a single oral administration of an elixir formulation of Ivermectin at either 24 mg or 12 mg dose, or placebo in a 1:1:1 ratio. The co-primary outcomes were conversion of RT-PCR to negative result and the decline of viral load at day 5 of enrolment. Safety outcomes included total and serious adverse events. The primary outcomes were assessed in patients who had positive RT-PCR at enrolment (modified intention-to-treat population). Safety outcomes were assessed in all patients who received the intervention (intention-to-treat population).

Results: Among the 157 patients randomized, 125 were included in modified intention-to-treat analysis. 40 patients each were assigned to Ivermectin 24 mg and 12 mg, and 45 patients to placebo. The RT-PCR negativity at day 5 was higher in the two Ivermectin arms but failed to attain statistical significance (Ivermectin 24 mg, 47.5%; 12 mg arm, 35.0%; and placebo arm, 31.1%; p-value = 0.30). The decline of viral load at day 5 was similar in each arm. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions: In patients with mild and moderate COVID-19, a single oral administration of Ivermectin did not significantly increase either the negativity of RT-PCR or decline in viral load at day 5 of enrolment compared with placebo.

Keywords: COVID-19; Ivermectin; SARS-CoV-2; Viral load.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Trial profile: subject enrolment, randomization and outcome assessment.
Fig. 2a
Fig. 2a
(a)Negativity rate of RT-PCR at day 5 of enrolment in the modified intention-to-treat population.
Fig. 2b
Fig. 2b
(b)Mean decrease in viral load (expressed as log10 viral copies/mL) at day 5 of enrolment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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