Texas Tech joins study testing unproven ivermectin, other controversial 'repurposed drugs' for COVID effects

Texas universities, including Texas Tech's Health Science Center in El Paso, are now recruiting subjects for a nationwide study to test the effects of unproven repurposed drugs against non-severe COVID cases. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medication that local and federal health agencies have warned against using for COVID symptoms, is a candidate in the clinical trial known as ACTIV-6, along with fluticasone, an asthma medication, and fluvoxamine, an anti-depressant. None of the three drugs have been shown to be beneficial against COVID-19 in any large-scale clinical trial.

The form of ivermectin tested by the study is different from the over-the-counter formulation and dosage, meant to treat animals, that some people have attempted to use for COVID, Dr. Edward Michelson of Texas Tech's Health Science Center in El Paso told local station KTSM. Michelson leads the local ACTIV-6 study in El Paso. The study aims to determine whether any of the drugs can help meet a "critical" need for medications to prevent COVID from worsening in people with "mild-to-moderate" cases that do not require hospitalization or oxygen, according to the study website. Texans in cities with participating universities, including Houston, San Antonio, Forth Worth and El Paso can apply on the website to participate if they are over 30 years old and tested positive for COVID in the past 10 days. The study has no in-person component, with medications mailed to participants who then fill out surveys online.