Zambia’s medicines regulator said it would conduct studies to investigate the efficacy of Ivermectin for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

In a statement on Wednesday in Lusaka, the spokesman for the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), Christabel IIiamupu, said the authority had been monitoring the use of the drug for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 in other countries.

 “The authority wishes to inform the general public that the authority has continued monitoring developments regarding the use of Ivermectin for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

 “ZAMRA noted the position adopted by some countries within the region, to allow for use of Ivermectin for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 on compassionate grounds in a controlled-access programme under supervision," IIiamupu said.  

The spokesperson stressed that the drug will only be used in approved clinical trials where participants will be closely monitored and generated; evidence will inform policy on the prevention or treatment of the disease.

 ZAMRA would continue to support researchers, who intend to investigate possible treatment or prevention of the disease by expediting the process of the applications for the conduct of clinical trials.