Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug prescribed to treat tropical diseases in humans such as river blindness and scabies. It is also used in livestock centres to deworm animals, adding horses and cows.
During the pandemic, the drug began to gain traction as an “alternative” remedy for COVID-19, with Dr. Pierre Kory, President of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, touting it as a “miracle drug. “
Popular podcaster Joe Rogan also revealed that he took the drug after testing positive for the virus, along with many other medications.
The lawsuit filed in June 2022 through Drs. Paul Marik, Mary Talley, and Robert Apter, and accused the FDA, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services of violating the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. The U. S. government and its leaders have been accused of overstepping their authority and violating the Administrative Procedure Act.
The doctors “were pressured, were unable to prescribe medication, and were threatened or subjected to disciplinary action,” the lawsuit states.
For example, Dr. Apter claimed that pharmacists had refused to fill prescriptions for ivermectin and that insurance companies were refusing to pay for ivermectin, and he mentioned the FDA.
According to the FDA, the lawsuit questioned its authority to conduct an update to consumers in March 2021 and found a factor in several tweets and social media posts selling the item.
Another article in X said, “Wait, everyone. Ivermectin may be all the rage, but it’s not legal or approved to treat COVID-19.
In addition, the organization has already gotten rid of a page that said, “Should I take ivermectin to save you or treat COVID-19?No. “
The lawsuit was first dismissed by a lower court ruling in Texas after the FDA claimed sovereign immunity. However, the doctors appealed to the Fifth Circuit, which reinstated the procedure in 2023.
“The FDA is squandering its war on ivermectin and removing all social media posts and customer rules related to ivermectin and COVID, adding to its most popular tweet in FDA history,” Dr. Anna said in a statement. Mary Talley Bowden, one of the plaintiffs.
“This landmark case sets a precedent by restricting the FDA’s overreach in the doctor-patient relationship. “
Dr. Paul Marik, another plaintiff, said he was “extremely pleased” with the outcome and called it “a victory for each and every physician and patient in the United States. “
“The FDA has intervened in the practice of medicine with its irresponsible language and publications about ivermectin. We will never know how many lives were affected because patients were denied access to a life-saving remedy because their doctor was simply following FDA guidelines. “.
An FDA spokesperson said the company opted to file the lawsuit rather than “continue to discuss statements that are two to four years old. “
“The FDA has not stated any violation of law or wrongdoing, disagrees with the plaintiffs’ allegation that the company exceeded its authority in publishing the disputed statements in the lawsuit, and maintains its authority to communicate with the public regarding the products it regulates. “the spokesperson said.
“The FDA has not replaced its position that recent clinical trial data does not demonstrate that ivermectin is effective against COVID-19. The company has not legalized or approved the use of ivermectin in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , who once called Big Pharma a “criminal enterprise,” also wrote in X: “Ivermectin is an exceptional case. The FDA has a bias opposite to many generic and/or herbal treatments with low costs and low benefit potential. Is it because part of their investment comes from Big Pharma?