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Ivermectin, an antiparasitic agent, also has antiviral properties. In this study, we aimed to assess whether ivermectin has anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity.In this double-blinded trial, we compared patients receiving ivermectin for 3 days versus placebo in nonhospitalized adult patients with COVID-19. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction from a nasopharyngeal swab was obtained at recruitment and every 2 days for at least 6 days. The primary endpoint was a reduction of viral load on the sixth day as reflected by cycle threshold level30 (noninfectious level). The primary outcome was supported by the determination of viral-culture viability.Of 867 patients screened, 89 were ultimately evaluated per-protocol (47 ivermectin and 42 placeboes). On day 6, the odds ratio (OR) was 2.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-6.31) in the ivermectin arm, reaching the endpoint. In a multivariable logistic regression model, the odds of a negative test on day 6 were 2.28 times higher in the ivermectin group but reached significance only on day 8 (OR 3.70; 95% CI: 1.19-11.49, P = 0.02). Culture viability on days 2 to 6 was positive in 13.0% (3/23) of ivermectin samples versus 48.2% (14/29) in the placebo group (P = 0.008).There were lower viral loads and less viable cultures in the ivermectin group, which shows its anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. It could reduce transmission in these patients and encourage further studies with this drug.

Objective: : This study aimed to describe the distribution of respiratory pathogens and the occurrence of co-pathogens during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel targeting 23 microorganisms to analyze the oro-pharyngeal samples of patients admitted to our hospital with acute respiratory infection (ARI) between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. We matched 40 to 50 patients who were SARS-CoV-2 positive and SARS-CoV-2 negative per month for age and sex. Results: A total of 939 patients with multiplex PCR test results were included in the study. Respiratory pathogens where detected in only 8/476 (1.6%) patients with COVID-19 versus 87/463 (18.7%) patients with non–COVID-19 ARI patients. Diversity and rates of pathogens vastly differed from previous years but showed seasonal variance. Conclusion: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection presenting with ARI during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated paucity of respiratory co-pathogens.

The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a major public health problem. Vi- rus entry occurs via binding to ACE2. Five SARS- CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) were reported so far, all having immune escape characteristics. Infection with the current VOC Omicron was noticed in immunized and recovered individuals ; there- fore, the development of new treatments against VOC infections is urgently needed. Most approved mAbs treatments against SARS-CoV-2 are directed against the spike protein of the original virus and are therefore inefficient against Omicron. Here, we report on the generation of hACE2.16, an anti-ACE2 antibody that recognizes and blocks ACE2-RBD binding without affecting ACE2 enzymatic activity. We demonstrate that hACE2.16 binding to ACE2 does not affect its sur- face expression and that hACE2.16 blocks infection and virus production of various VOCs including Omicron BA.1 and BA.2. hACE2.16 might, therefore, be an efficient treatment against all VOCs, the current and probably also future ones.