Ivermectin: Pleiotropic  Drug Continues to be  Potent Therapeutic Agent

Awanindra  Dwivedi; Prateek  Kumar Singh; Pratima; Arti  Bahl; Ranjan  Das

Awanindra Dwivedi National Centre for Disease Control, DGHS, MoHFW, GOI, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Prateek Kumar Singh National Centre for Disease Control, DGHS, MoHFW, GOI, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Pratima Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Arti Bahl National Centre for Disease Control, DGHS, MoHFW, GOI, Delhi, India
Ranjan Das National Centre for Disease Control, DGHS, MoHFW, GOI, Delhi, India

Abstract

Aims: Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent, primarily deployed to combat parasitic worms in veterinary and human medicine. It has primarily been used in humans as an oral medication for the treatment of filarial diseases. It is used to treat onchocerciasis, strongyloidiasis and scabies in many countries. However, very recently, this drug was used in the management and cure of COVID-19. The aim of the present study is to unveil and focus on various pleiotropic aspects of this wonder drug.
Methodology: Relevant studies were searched by two means: (a) by online database searching using different online search engines and (b) from books, printed journals and government reports available in the library of the National Centre for Disease Control, Varanasi, and the Central Library of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The restriction was set to include only those studies and reports which were carried out till 2024 and had information globally. The language of publication was not restricted. Abstracts without published articles
were excluded.
Conclusions: Drug delivery mechanisms have impacts upon drug pharmacokinetics, distribution, absorption, metabolism, duration of therapeutic effect and toxicity. The possibility of novel systems for delivering ivermectin has opened up a galore of opportunities for usage of the drug. This unique, multifaceted drug of the past and present has the capability to become a more exceptional drug of the future.
Keywords: Ivermectin, antiparasitic agent, onchocerciasis, pharmacokinetics, COVID-19.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202611

How to cite this article:
Dwivedi A, Singh P K, Pratima, Bahl A, Das R, Ivermectin: pleiotropic drug continues to be potent therapeutic agent. J Commun Dis. 2026;58(1):158-162.

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