Joint Statement on Widespread Use of Ivermectin in India

The Evidence-Based Medicine Consultancy Ltd (E-BMC Ltd) is a UK-based independent medical research company that contributes to the quality of healthcare globally through the rigorous evaluation of medical evidence to support clinical practice guidelines. The Frontline Covid Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) Alliance is a U.S based non-profit humanitarian organization made up of renowned, world-expert clinician-researchers whose sole mission over the past year has been to develop and disseminate the most effective treatment protocols for covid-19.

We commend the tremendous efforts of the Indian central government, state governments, media personnel, doctors, nursing staff, police personnel, paramedical staff and other organisations in mitigating the suffering of Indians at this time. The measures taken by the Indian Government to address the needs of Indians during this unprecedented humanitarian crisis are exemplary and laudable.

Over the past four months, E-BMC Ltd has been working together with the FLCCC to encourage governments around the world to adopt re-purposed existing drugs for the early treatment of covid-19. One such drug is Ivermectin, a safe medicine which has been used for nearly 40 years to treat parasitic infections. New evidence show that it has potent antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties as well.

E-BMC Ltd presented the evidence on Ivermectin to prevent and treat covid-19 to the British Ivermectin Recommendation Development (BiRD) panel in February 2021. The BiRD group includes researchers and doctors from around the world who have been seeking effective treatments to combat the pandemic. The BiRD panel deliberated on the evidence for the use of Ivermectin against covid-19 resulting in a recommendation in favour Ivermectin as a covid-19 frontline therapy.
The news bulletins on television showing dramatic scenes of the suffering of India’s people has prompted us to urge the Indian Government and all states in India to adopt Ivermectin as a matter of urgency as a front line prophylaxis and treatment for covid-19. Indeed, at least one of India’s states, Uttar Pradesh, has already been using this drug to great effect. We are now even more encouraged that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian Council of Medical Research have urgently responded with a recommendation to use ivermectin in mild outpatient illness. The BiRD and FLCCC wholeheartedly endorse this practice.

Although we are in agreement with this approach, based on our research and knowledge of treatment experiences from not only India but other parts of the world, we recommend Ivermectin for treatment of covid-19 in early out-patient disease at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg – 0.4 mg/kg and for later phase, hospital patients 0.4 mg – 0.6 mg/kg. In each phase, the higher dose range should be used in more severe illness. Further, we strongly recommend that ivermectin be continued for 5 days or until recovered. Lastly, vitamin D, preferably in the form of calcifediol, should be given.
We also recommend that Ivermectin be used as covid-19 prophylaxis on a large scale through mass distribution of ivermectin in the dose of 0.2mg/kg (12mg for a 60 kg person) weekly to adults to decrease transmission amongst the general population in the current crisis. We believe this will save thousands of lives and reduces the suffering of millions.

Stories of Ivermectin’s ability to beat covid-19 can be found in many parts of the world, including the Dominican Republic, Peru, Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as in other African countries where mass administration of ivermectin against parasitic infections is practiced. More than 3.7 billion people have been treated with Ivermectin for parasitic infections and it has been found to be extremely safe.
The BiRD group and the FLCCC wish and pray for the good health of the people of India and reiterates that Ivermectin will save millions of lives. We hope our message is disseminated widely for the better health of Indians.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Tess Lawrie and Dr Shashikanth Manikappa on behalf of the BiRD Group, and Dr Pierre Kory on behalf of the FLCCC.