PETALING JAYA: The results of the Ivermectin Treatment Effectiveness test on high-risk Covid-19 patients (I-Tech Study) will be presented publicly next week, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

       "The great debate locally on Ivermectin will be settled soon. We did a local study on Ivermectin and the results are in," Khairy tweeted on Friday (Oct 29).

       Khairy noted that Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) director Dr Kalaiarasu Peariasamy would be presenting the results publicly next week.

       On June 5, the Health Ministry had started an Ivermectin trial for high risk Covid-19 patients known as the I-Tech study.

       The Health Ministry had said that it recruited 500 patients from high risk groups aged 50 years and above admitted to government hospitals with mild or moderate Covid-19 symptoms.

       It aimed to determine the efficacy of Ivermectin in preventing the progression of Covid-19 to severe disease as well as mortality outcomes.

       Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug used in veterinary medicine, was previously touted to be a drug for Covid-19 treatment.

       But, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had recommended against using it except for those in clinical trials.

       The European Medicines Agency as well as the US Food and Drug Administration had also recommended it not be used for Covid-19 treatment.