Thomas Goetz

But that is not where this drug story ends.

because here our story takes a turn.

In late 2019, a new disease emerged, COVID.

and suddenly ivermectin was front page news.

This is part three, side effects.

Now, usually side effects are unwanted or undesired consequences of a drug.

But sometimes those unintended consequences actually open the door to new uses for the drug.

It's called repurposing.

This is Dr. David Boulware, a professor of medicine and infectious disease physician at the University of Minnesota.

Now, remember, when COVID hit the U.S.

in 2020, nobody knew anything.

There was no obvious treatment.

So there were a lot of ideas, some absurd ideas about what would work.

Some people said bleach would kill the virus or methylene chloride.

That's also known as paint stripper.

Ultraviolet light was supposed to work.

In India, one politician held a cow urine drinking party and 200 people showed up.

There were so many teas and salves and extracts.

And then there were supplements.

This is Simone.