TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a social media post that he is urging Congress to pass legislation on ivermectin and intends to sign it.
The governor’s post was in response to another post asking whether the drug, which is prescribed to people to fight parasitic infections, will become widely available in the state.
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Republican state Rep. Jeff Holcomb of Spring Hill withdrew a bill this week that would have made tablets available in stores.
The lawmaker’s office said the language will be included in a separate bill, and the lawmaker will discuss his efforts after introducing the new bill.
Ivermectin first became widely known during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Since then, the FDA has still not cleared or approved the drug to treat or prevent COVID-19. Post-pandemic, doctors are being asked whether tablets can help cancer patients after a podcast guest claimed they were effective.
Dr. Vinay Shah is an oncologist who recently discovered that more than 90% of doctors surveyed had asked their patients about ivermectin as a cancer treatment.
“With regard to ivermectin and cancer, there are no publications suggesting that ivermectin is effective in improving patient survival,” Shah said.
In that study, 22 doctors did not recommend its use for cancer, and eight others said there was not enough evidence to make a recommendation.
During a visit to Tampa last month, First Lady Casey DeSantis said the state was open to funding more research.
“We should look at it. We should look at the benefits of it. We shouldn’t just speculate and speculate. We should look at things in a general way as the state of Florida, which has spent over a billion dollars since Ron DeSantis took office because of cancer,” said Casey DeSantis.
This funding will come from $60 million available from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund.
