In 1996 ivermectin under the trade name Stromectol by Merck Sharp Dohme was was first approved for marketing in Australia as 6 mg tablets indicated for the treatment of onchocerciasis (river blindness) and intestinal strongyloidiasis (intestinal thread worms) in humans. In 1999 the 3mg oral tablets were registered, replacing the 3mg.
Ivermectin comprise of two avermectin derivatives (B1a (90%) and B1b (10%)) which are excreted from Streptomyces averimitilis bacteria during their fermentation process. Avermectins are a class of highly active broad-spectrum antiparasitic agents that are structuralIy similar to the macrolide antibiotics but have no antibacterial effect. [1, 2]