Ivermectin Approved As A COVID-19 Drug Erick Thohir Prepares 4.5 Million Production

JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir admitted that his party will produce 4.5 million ivermectin as a COVID-19 drug.

This was done after the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) issued an approval for the implementation of clinical trials (PPUK) on the drug ivermectin.

"Today, we are specifically talking about ivermectin. We have prepared a production of 4.5 million," Erick said in a press conference that was broadcast online on BPOM's YouTube, Monday, June 28.

If later ivermectin is able to treat many people with COVID-19, the state-owned company will produce more.

"We are trying to help people get cheap drugs or cheap therapies, which of course will be decided after clinical trials," he said.

Erick also emphasized that he would continue to increase cooperation in domestic vaccine production so that the COVID-19 vaccination would reach the target of one million doses per day.

"We also continue to work together, apart from imported vaccines, BPOM, the Ministry of Health and our SOEs are also exploring red and white vaccines or BUMN vaccines. Of course this is nothing but so that we can provide the best together," he explained

Previously, the Head of BPOM Penny Lukito said that BPOM had issued a license to use or a distribution permit for the drug branded Ivermectin for an indication of helminthiasis that was given in certain doses. Because, this drug is included in the hard drug class.

"Ivermectin is a strong drug that must be prescribed by a doctor. However, epidemiological data and global publications have stated that Ivermectin can also be used to treat COVID-19," said Penny.

In addition, this approval was also given after a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO). In the recommendation mentioned Ivermectin can be used in the framework of clinical trials.

Not only WHO, similar recommendations were also issued by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

"However, we still have to collect clinical trial data, which is currently not conclusive if it is used for COVID-19," said Penny.

"For this reason, BPOM is in line with WHO recommendations to facilitate the implementation of clinical trials initiated by the Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes) of the Ministry of Health," he added.