Let's walk everyone through what Ivermectin is first.
Ivermectin starts as avermectins, produced by fermenting a soil bacterium (Streptomyces avermitilis).
That sounds natural but this is where the “nature” part ends.
The fermentation is done in industrial
bioreactors using:
- Refined sugars (often corn- or petro-derived)
- Synthetic nutrients
- Industrial solvents
- Strictly controlled lab conditions
This is not a farm process. It’s pharmaceutical fermentation.
Chemical modification is required
Avermectins are not ivermectin.
To become ivermectin, they must undergo:
- Hydrogenation
- Solvent extraction
- Chemical purification
- Crystallization
These steps use:
- Petroleum-derived solvents (hexane, acetone, ethanol, etc.)
- Industrial catalysts
- Synthetic reagents
This is medicinal chemistry, not herbal medicine.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) are outsourced
Small companies do not make ivermectin from scratch.
They buy:
- Finished ivermectin API
- Or late-stage intermediates
From large chemical manufacturers in:
- China
- India
- Sometimes Europe
These are the same suppliers used by major pharmaceutical firms, including companies like Merck (the original patent holder).
Small brands are usually:
- Repackagers
- Tableters
- Capsule fillers
- Veterinary formulators
They don’t control the upstream chemistry.
4. There is no “plant-based” ivermectin
Important to be clear:
- Ivermectin is not a nutrient
- It is not found in plants
- It is not a botanical extract
- It is made with industrial chemistry
Even when fermentation is involved, the final compound is a synthetic pharmaceutical drug.