The spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 19) has become global. Most of the medications being tested as potential treatments have not been subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny in the form of randomized controlled trials. The need of the moment is to review the available data on the effectiveness of these medications against SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses (SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) in vitro and in vivo, and to assess their potential for re-purposing in the treatment of COVID-19. Ivermectine is one of them.