KUALA LUMPUR: The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) says the importation, advertising, and manufacturing including compounding of Ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19 is only limited to the usage for clinical trials.
In a statement dated Aug 4, its director Dr Roshayati Mohamad Sani said this was in accordance to the statement issued by the Health director-general titled "Salah Faham Mengenai Penggunaan Produk Ivermectin Sebagai Rawatan and Pencegahan Covid-19 di Malaysia" on May 16.
She said in the statement, it was mentioned that members of the public were advised against taking Ivermectin to treat and prevent Covid-19 as there was no clinical data to prove its efficiency against the coronavirus.
The statement also stated there were no products with Ivermectin had been registered under the Drug Control Authority for human use.
"With the rising Covid-19 cases in the country, Ivermectin was under 'off-label' use by the Health Ministry only for clinical trials."
She said as such, all licensed pharmacists must ensure that the importation or sales of Ivermectin raw material for the manufacturing or compounding for Covid-19 treatment would only be for use in clinical trials.
"The importation, manufacturing including compounding and sales of Ivermectin raw materials or products containing Ivermectin for other purposes should stop immediately.
"Any form of advertisements for poisonous products including Ivermectin is banned because it is against the policy of the Medicine Advertisements Board, hence, advertisement on such products should not be published on any media platform."
The statement was sent to the presidents of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS), Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild (MCPG), Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries (Mopi), and Pharmeceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA).
She said NPRA would always monitor the matter and actions could be taken for the sales, supplies and advertisement under the Poisons Act 1952, Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984 and Medicines (Advertisement and Sale) Act 1956.