India De-Approves Hydroxycholoquine and Ivermectin

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed on September 24, 2021, it has removed usage of Ivermectin and Hydroxycholoquine from its approved COVID-19 treatment guidelines.

Experts at the ICMR did not find enough evidence for Ivermectin and Hydroxycholoquine as potential therapeutics targeted against COVID-19, stated Samiran Panda, head of epidemiology and infectious diseases at ICMR.

ET reported, "A lot of discussions took place, and the experts finally came to the conclusion that there is not enough evidence that proves the effectiveness of both the drugs. Hence, we decided to drop them from the clinical guidelines for the management of Covid-19 patients," Dr. Samiran Panda stated.

Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) is U.S. FDA-approved to treat certain types of malaria and autoimmune conditions such as chronic discoid lupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosus in adults, and rheumatoid arthritis.

And, Ivermectin tablets are approved by the U.S. FDA to treat people with intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis, two conditions caused by parasitic worms.