Sales of Ivermectin, drug to treat parasitic infections, jump fourfold

Ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasitic infections, rose to prominence in 2020 as a treatment for Covid-19, pushing its sales up by more than 25 times, prompting more drug firms to launch the product. 

Though demand for Ivermectin slowed with the rise of antivirals like remdesivir and favipiravir, experts feel its relevance as a prophylaxis remains. Annual sales of Iverm­ectin were around Rs 19 crore in 2018 and went up to Rs 21 crore in 2019. In 2020 it shot up to Rs 94 crore. The drug’s sales grew from Rs 1.7 crore in April to Rs 26.8 crore in September, riding on Covid-19 demand, shows data from market research firm AIOCD AWACS.  

Mumbai-based pulmonologist Dr Agam Vora said in the first few months of the pandemic, the line of treatment was not established. “Iver­mectin emerged as one of the better options around at the time as it has hardly any side effects and has no drug-to-drug interaction. It is inexpensive and easily available. The best part is its prophylactic properties,” Dr Vora said. He has published papers on the role of Ivermectin in treating mild cases of Covid-19.   

Dr Vora said by the time Ivermectin popularity grew, antivirals like favipiravir and remdesivir came along. This hit demand for the drug, which saw sales dip to Rs 8.6 crore in December. 

Several firms launched the drug last year, including Mumbai-based JB Chemicals. Nikhil Chopra, chief executive officer of JB Chemicals, said they launched the drug in November. It also launched favipiravir and Chopra feels Ivermectin has not lost its relevance as it has prophylactic properties.   

Dr Vora said, “The vaccine would take some time to cover a sizeable population. Until then, safe drugs like Ivermectin can be used as prophylactic to stop the spread of infection.” 

Firms like Cipla, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Zuventus have popular Ivermectin brands in the market. Kedar Upadhye, global CFO of Cipla, too, said Ivermectin was considered good for Covid-19 before other molecules came along.  Sales of the drug first picked up in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and it still seems to be doing well in the North. 

 “We are giving Ivermectin to those who are getting admitted in the hospitals with Covid as well as family mem­bers and contacts of the patient... This is in the government protocol,” said Subodh Kumar Adarsh, chief medical officer, Agra.

A chief medical officer in Aligarh said the drug, unlike HCQ, which was also a part of the protocol, does not have any major side effects and is easier to use. Medical professionals believe the repurposed drug controls the replication of the virus in the body. However, it works for mild cases and doesn’t prevent deaths, a Delhi-based doctor said.