Ivermectin has been used to kill animal and human parasites for nearly 40 years.
New Zealand scientists are cautiously optimistic of the findings.
“It’s very much early days,” Boehringer Ingelheim veterinary parasitologist Dr Abi Chase said.
She warned people not to try it on themselves.
“It’s a drug that requires a lot of respect, Obviously, we should never be recommending people use an animal drug on themselves ever.”
Chase expected scientists to fast-track the study, which can be done because the drug is already widely used on people.
Massey University vet and food safety expert Professor Nigel French said the work is very much in the early stages and there is no evidence it will work on covid-19 in people.
“It’s really dangerous to use drugs formulated for other purposes – it’s lethal and shown to be lethal in other studies.”
