We aim to gather evidence to support the expansion of ivermectin use in young children

A transformative tool for parasite control and global health

Evaluating safety and efficacy of ivermectin for children under 15kg

Including a novel, child-friendly orodispersible formulation

IVM-KIDS responds to a critical need identified by the World Health Organization: the lack of data to support the safe use of ivermectin in children under 15 kg. This group represents around 20% of the population in countries where ivermectin is part of mass drug administration campaigns. To address this gap, the project will evaluate the safety and efficacy of generic ivermectin and a new oro-dispersible formulation of the 3mg tablet specifically developed for this group.  

Through a coordinated programme of clinical trials, population PK studies and regulatory engagement, IVM-KIDS aims to obtain and share the evidence required for expanding the indication of ivermectin to this age group. The main goal is to support the safe, effective and scalable inclusion of paediatric ivermectin in national strategies for the control of NTDs.  

Key figures behind IVM-KIDS

48 months

From September 2025 

8 partners

Across Africa and Europe 

5.4M €

Total project budget funded by Global Health EDCTP3

+250M children

Could benefit from an expanded indication for ivermectin, mainly in Africa, South-east Asia and the Americas

What we want to achieve

Four clear steps towards making paediatric ivermectin a reality

Our consortium brings together leading academic, pharmaceutical and industry partners across Europe and Africa. This collaboration bridges the full pathway from scientific research to community-level adoption, enabling us to deliver impactful solutions at scale.

  • 1

    Demonstrate safety in paediatric populations. We will carry out clinical trials that will generate critical safety data to evaluate if ivermectin can be safely administered to children under 15kg.

  • 2
    Confirm efficacy and define dosing. Efficacy and pharmacokinetics studies will assess the efficacy of a combination therapy of albendazole and ivermectin against soil-transmitted helminths (STH), specifically T. trichiura, in this cohort, and enable us to model the dosage strategy.
  • 3

    Advance regulatory changes to support real-world adoption. We work to meet regulatory requirements and, with WHO support, develop a strategy that enables widespread expansion of the indication of ivermectin to include the children currently left out of disease control programmes. 

  • 4

    Strengthen African research capacity. By investing in local infrastructure and training, the project empowers African institutions and scientists to develop control strategies tailored to the needs of their region. 

Credit: Neil Brandvold – DNDi

Expanding the reach of ivermectin

One change could impact the control strategies for several NTDs

IVM-KIDS is part of a broader global effort to ensure that mass drug administration (MDA) strategies are as inclusive and effective as possible.  By extending the reach of these campaigns to children currently untreated, we can improve their lives and accelerate progress towards the elimination goals in WHO’s 2021-2030 NTD Roadmap.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH)

Parasitic worms such as Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura affect hundreds of millions of children, compromising their growth, nutrition and development. Current single-dose benzimidazole campaigns would greatly improve by the inclusion of ivermectin.

Onchocerciasis

This disease, transmitted to humans by black flies, can cause severe skin conditions, visual impairment and neurological complications in children, including epilepsy.  Ivermectin is the treatment of choice

Lymphatic filariasis (LF)

Often acquired before the age of five, LF causes long-term damage to the lymphatic system that may remain hidden until adulthood. Early intervention is essential to prevent future disability. Ivermectin is part of the indication, in combination with albendazole and diethylcarbamazine.

Integrating scabies studies within the IVM-KIDS framework

IVM-KIDS will extend its research platform by conducting clinical studies on scabies in paediatric populations in Ghana and Kenya, addressing a common parasitic skin condition that disproportionately affects children and can have devastating effects.

By leveraging the clinical framework of the IVM-KIDS project, these studies will generate essential data on paediatric ivermectin for scabies, strengthening inclusive MDA strategies and improving access to effective care for pre-school age children.