A total of $ 7,992 ($ 5,710) was fined by an Australian drug regulator for promoting ivermectin and zinc lozenge to treat COVID-19.
The Therapeutic Goods Agency (TGA) has previously warned consumers and advertisers about illegally promoting ivermectin in connection with COVID-19.
“Individuals claimed on their website that ivermectin and zinc lozenges are effective in treating COVID-19,” TGA said in a press release on November 30.
“Advertising references to the coronavirus (COVID-19) are restricted expressions and individuals have not been granted permission to make claims.”
According to the TGA, individuals claimed on their website that ivermectin could be used “safely” for COVID-19.
Regulators have taken a strict stance against “falsely misleading” advertising about products related to COVID-19.
In a March 2020 statement, TGA said, “If you suspect a product allegation, including one advertised as a preventative or therapeutic treatment for COVID-19, you can provide information through the online advertising complaint form.” I am.
In September, the body announced further restrictions on how the drug was used, limiting the conditions for TGA approval.
Australian medical authorities have suspended practitioners to share content on social media platforms that do not adhere to existing medical legitimacy.
Ivermectin is a generic drug that can be manufactured inexpensively in many parts of the world and is widely used by humans against parasites and to combat scabies, lice and rosacea. It is also used as an anthelmintic for livestock such as horses and cows.
William Campbell and Satoshi Omura were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for the discovery and application of ivermectin. The World Health Organization lists ivermectin on its list of essential medicines.
Doctors and medical professionals Consideration Ivermectin as a reused drug in tackling COVID-19, especially when used in early treatment. Many praise ivermectin for having thousands of patients successfully survive the first wave of COVID-19.
As of September 9 There are at least 63 studiesForty-five of them have been peer-reviewed for the treatment of COVID-19 with ivermectin.
Two groups, Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance And that UK Ivermectin Recommended Development Group, Has campaigned for off-label use of drugs to combat illness in a pandemic.
Monash University, based in Victoria, Australia, Announced in April 2020 The studies it led showed that “a single dose of the drug, ivermectin, can stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell culture.”
However, ivermectin warns that “it cannot be used in humans for COVID-19 until further studies and clinical trials have been completed to confirm the efficacy of the drug at safe levels for human administration.” Did.
“The potential use of ivermectin to fight COVID-19 remains unproven and relies on funding to move to the next stage,” the university said at the time.
Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this article.
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