Tag: Mectizan

Discovered in the late 1970s from a single soil microbe in Japan, ivermectin was not initially intended for people [1.2.2]. So, was ivermectin originally made for humans? The answer is no; it was first introduced as a revolutionary veterinary drug in 1981 [1.10.2, 1.3.3].

Since its donation by Merck & Co. began in 1987, the Mectizan Donation Program has provided over 4.4 billion treatments to combat devastating parasitic diseases worldwide. But **what is the drug Mectizan used for**? Primarily, it is a key medication in the fight against river blindness (onchocerciasis) and lymphatic filariasis, saving millions from blindness and disfigurement.