2/16
I have been working with ivermectin since 2008. This includes animal models, insectary work and clinical trials.
Here is one of my earliest experiences with it. A girl with disseminate strongyloides in rural Venezuela.
4/16
But it turns out we needed to convince a LOT of people of the potential value of this approach.
Drug people would say "go talk to mosquito people" and mosquito people would say "go talk to drug people".
(In Spain we say "the fish that bites its own tail")
5/16
Finally in 2016 the @WHO held a technical consultation (in which I was honored to participate) that resulted on clear guidance: who.int/malaria/mpac/m…
6/16
This process has opened the door to a lot of important research on ivermectin and #malaria. There are now several groups conducting field trials. Our own project is called BOHEMIA and it has been funded by @UNITAID
11/16
Also, please know that many fell for the misleading preprints on ivermectin and COVID-19 linked to the #LancetGate scandal and what seems to be a fraudulent database.
We have partnered with @CayetanoHeredia to conduct an independent trials using an adaptation of the SAINT protocol there.
15/16
Wait so are you pro or against ivermectin?
I am pro science and pro evidence.
I wish as much as anyone that we find a cheap and broadly available cure for this disease as soon as possible.
But primum non nocere.
We do not need another HQ fiasco.
16/16
Ivermectin is my line of work. I know it very well and I wished it works against COVID.
But evidence comes before policy and we need at the very least one robust, large, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blinded, clinical trial before jumping to advocacy.