JAPAN: Antiviral effect of Kowa ivermectin on "Omicron strain" confirmed

The Kowa Pharmaceuticals web site has this announcement in PDF form on its home page, in the news section near the bottom of the page, the one dated 2022.01.31.

PRESS RELEASE January 31, 2022

Antiviral effect of Kowa ivermectin on "Omicron strain" confirmed

Joint research (non-clinical trials) between Kowa Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Kowa”), with Kitasato University, of the drug "Ivermectin" used in Phase III clinical trials (development code: K-237) for the treatment of Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, has confirmed that, just as with existing variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta variants), the same antiviral effects have been confirmed for the Omicron variant.

As announced in July 2021, Kowa received a request directly from Professor Satoshi Omura, special honorary professor at Kitasato University, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine [translator’s note: for the development of ivermectin] about conducting clinical trials of ivermectin as a therapeutic drug for Covid-19 infections. He believes that it is the mission of pharmaceutical companies to contribute to the treatment of coronavirus infections and protect the health of the people, and we are conducting clinical trials to confirm the efficacy and safety of ivermectin against Covid-19 infections.

Ivermectin has been distributed by the WHO to infected areas as a treatment for parasitic infections for over 30 years. Especially in certain African countries, it has been confirmed to be safe enough for volunteers to distribute directly to people. In addition, ivermectin has been reported to suppress the invasion of SARS-CoV-2 into cells and inhibit replication, and is expected to be repositioned as a Covid-19 infection therapeutic drug (tablet). In this clinical trial, while administration and dosage are different from those already approved for the treatment of parasitic infections, the efficacy and safety are in the process of being confirmed.

Kowa will contribute to the treatment of Covid-19 infections by confirming the clinical effect of ivermectin on SARS-CoV-2 and providing it to the public as soon as possible.