Effect of a combination of nitazoxanide, ribavirin, and ivermectin plus zinc supplement (MANS.NRIZ study) on the clearance of mild COVID‐19

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic is caused by the novel Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) started in Wuhan China. The urgent need for a safe and effective treatment has encouraged the researchers to initiate clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of many drugs targeting virus. Aim This trial compared the rate and time of viral clearance in subjects receiving the combination of nitazoxanide, ribavirin and ivermectin plus Zinc vs. those receiving supportive treatment. Subject and Methods This non‐randomized controlled trial included 62 patients on triple combination treatment versus 51 age‐ and sex‐matched patients on routine supportive treatment.all of them confirmed case by positive RT‐PCR of nasopharyngeal swab. Results Trial results showed that the clearance rates were 0% and 58.1% at 7th day and 13.7% and 73.1% at the 15th day in supportive treatment and combined antiviral groups, respectively. The cumulative clearance rates at 15th day are 13.7 and 88.7% in supportive treatment and combined antiviral groups, respectively. Conclusion This trial concluded that combined use of Nitazoxanide, Ribavirin, and Ivermectin plus zinc supplement effectively clear the SARS‐COV2 from nasopharynx in shorter time than the symptomatic therapy.