Ivermectin and Mebendazole Show Promise as Repurposed Drugs

In the world of pharmaceuticals, many drugs are used for purposes other than originally intended. For example:

• Aspirin – Initially a pain reliever, now used to prevent blood clots (1).
• Metformin – A diabetes drug also used to treat PCOS and infertility (2).
• Naltrexone – From addiction treatment to managing chronic pain (3).
• Doxycycline – From bacterial infections to viral inhibition in COVID-19 (4).
• Sildenafil – Treats erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension (5).
• Bupropion – Antidepressant and aid for smoking cessation (6).

On the Horizon: Mebendazole and Ivermectin

Mebendazole

Mebendazole, a long-used antiparasitic, shows promise as a cancer treatment:

• Johns Hopkins University found it slows pancreatic tumor progression (7).
• It can cross the blood-brain barrier, showing potential against brain tumors (8).
• Patent US11110079B2 covers its use in treating CNS cancers like glioblastoma and lymphoma (9).

Ivermectin

Ivermectin, another antiparasitic, is being explored for anticancer properties:

• Shows multiple anticancer mechanisms in cancers such as breast, prostate, lung, ovarian, glioma, leukemia, and more (10).

Ivermectin + Mebendazole

With distinct and overlapping antitumor effects, using these safe, decades-old drugs together or alongside other therapies is a promising research frontier (7–10).

CAUTION

Only use these medications under medical supervision. This content is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice or treatment.

References

1. Ridker PM, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005.
2. Attia GM, et al. Cureus. 2023.
3. Younger J, et al. Clin Rheumatol. 2014.
4. Alexpandi R, et al. Front Microbiol. 2022.
5. Barnett CF, et al. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2006.
6. Saadabadi A, et al. StatPearls. 2023.
7. Williamson T, et al. Oncotarget. 2021.
8. Meco D, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2023.
9. Riggins G, et al. US Patent No. US11110079B2.
10. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.