Many new and existing patients ask our physicians for their perspective on antiparasitic medications, particularly Fenbendazole and Mebendazole, which are in the Benzimidazole family of drugs.

At COC, we have carefully reviewed all the Benzimidazoles.

Fenbendazole is a veterinary drug which is not licensed for use in humans. While some studies on cells in petri dishes and in mice suggest that Fenbendazole might have anti-cancer properties, no studies have been done in people, and it is not clear what side effects it may cause or what the optimal dose might be. In addition, there is also a barrier to further developing the evidence base of this agent in cancer as human clinical studies cannot be straightforwardly undertaken.

Of the other drugs in the family, our COC physicians believe that Mebendazole has the greatest potential for further investigation because it has:

1. A human license (UK) / FDA clearance (US) for use in selected gastrointestinal parasitic infections and therefore can be prescribed and monitored by clinicians.

2. A well understood safety profile.

3. Demonstrated anticancer mechanisms of action in peer reviewed scientific studies and is being researched in clinical trials. (Mebendazole as a Candidate for Drug Repurposing in Oncology: An Extensive Review of Current Literature. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6769799/)

In addition, recent studies have shown that the Mebendazole polymorph C formulation demonstrates improved pharmacokinetics resulting in better bioavailability and drug distribution, when compared to Mebendazole polymorphs A and B. (Mebendazole and temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas: results of a phase 1 clinical trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33506200/

While other Benzimidazole drugs may also have utility in a cancer context, Mebendazole appears to best satisfy criteria for safety and efficacy data and history of use.

**This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, and/or monitoring by a physician.**

If you would like more information about Care Oncology, or the COC Protocol, schedule a call with one of our Case Managers.