[throwkeep]

> If Ivermectin worked on COVID-19, the manufacturer of Ivermectin that has made no money on vaccines for COVID-19 would probably be pushing it wouldn't they?

No, because it's out of patent. There's little profit to be made. Merck is instead pushing a new drug that they will have a monopoly on.

"Merck Announces Supply Agreement with U.S. Government for Molnupiravir, an Investigational Oral Antiviral Candidate for Treatment of Mild to Moderate COVID-19"

https://www.merck.com/news/merck-announces-supply-agreement-...

Big pharma 101.

As for Ivermectin effectiveness, it looks promising. There was an evidence based clinical review posted on Nature earlier this week:

"As per data available on 16 May 2021, 100% of 36 early treatment and prophylaxis studies report positive effects (96% of all 55 studies). Of these, 26 studies show statistically significant improvements in isolation. Random effects meta-analysis with pooled effects using the most serious outcome reported 79% and 85% improvement for early treatment and prophylaxis respectively (RR 0.21 [0.11–0.37] and 0.15 [0.09–0.25]). The results were similar after exclusion based sensitivity analysis: 81% and 87% (RR 0.19 [0.14–0.26] and 0.13 [0.07–0.25]), and after restriction to 29 peer-reviewed studies: 82% and 88% (RR 0.18 [0.11–0.31] and 0.12 [0.05–0.30]). Statistically significant improvements were seen for mortality, ventilation, hospitalization, cases, and viral clearance. 100% of the 17 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) for early treatment and prophylaxis report positive effects, with an estimated improvement of 73% and 83% respectively (RR 0.27 [0.18–0.41] and 0.17 [0.05–0.61]), and 93% of all 28 RCTs."

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41429-021-00430-5

[_Wintermute]

Dexamethasone is off patent, it's cheap and widely available, it's also the standard of care for covid-19 patients on respiratory support.

What's the difference between dexamethasone and hydroxycholoroquine/ivermectin/next-consipracy-theory?

It's been proven to work. There's no conspiracy, just pharmacology is hard, and people's random hunches typically don't work out.

[darwingr]

I'll answer, assuming you asked with some good faith. Not every statement of doubt or disfunction is an allegation of conspiracy.

Dexamethasone effectively treats the late, inflammatory stage of COVID19 where most virus is dead but still physically present.

The promise of other licensed medications is partially from their antiviral properties which means they're only expected to be effective as early stage medications.

So that's the difference. Different application. In the same way you wouldn't use Dexamethasone as an interchangeable treatment with monoclonal antibodies or remdesivir, which are also early stage treatments.

[XorNot]

You've managed to miss the point entirely.

The point is that Ivermectin worked, Merck would be pushing it hard because it's a heck of a lot cheaper to make an existing drug you already make then get through R&D and clinical trials for a brand new drug which doesn't yet exist.

[spadez]

Isn't the patent for Ivermectin expired already? So can't anyone produce the pills?

If that is the case, its pretty obvious why they are not supporting it..

[reedjosh]

You have to give credit where it's due. People were suspicious of big pharma cos prior to the miracle vaccine, but today they line up to defend them.