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The life and times of ivermectin — a success story

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 2, pages 984–989 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Since its introduction more than 20 years ago, ivermectin has proved to be one of the most successful therapeutic drugs in veterinary medicine, as well as the basis of one of the most successful public-health programmes of the past century. The drug arose from a unique international collaboration between the public and private sectors. The development process also incorporated the world's first and largest drug-donation programme and involved a unique association between governments, non-governmental organizations and industry. The drug is now being used, free of charge, in two global disease-elimination programmes that are benefiting millions of the world's poorest people.

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Figure 1: Micrograph of Streptomyces avermectinius.
Figure 2: Structure of the avermectins.
Figure 3: Schematic representation of the life cycle of Onchocerca volvulus.
Figure 4: Global distribution of onchocerciasis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kitasato Institute, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8642, Japan

    Satoshi Õmura

  2. 6-2-4-403 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022, Japan

    Andy Crump

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  1. Satoshi Õmura
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Correspondence to Satoshi Õmura.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

WHO

TDR

Onchocerciasis control programme

African programme for onchocerciasis control

Global alliance to eliminate lympatic filariasis

CDC onchocerciasis fact sheet

CDC lymphatic filariasis fact sheet

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Õmura, S., Crump, A. The life and times of ivermectin — a success story. Nat Rev Microbiol 2, 984–989 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1048

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