Fact Check: Can Ivermectin and Fenbendazole Help Treat Cancer?

By Editorial Team

Ivermectin and fenbendazole, originally developed as antiparasitic drugs, are sparking hope in the fight against cancer, fueled by inspiring stories like those shared by actor Mel Gibson on The Joe Rogan Experience, where he celebrated friends’ remarkable recoveries. While these medications aren’t yet standard cancer treatments, early research is uncovering exciting potential. Scientists are encouraged by promising lab studies and are calling for more clinical trials to confirm their effectiveness and ensure safe use in humans, paving the way for innovative, accessible therapies that could transform lives.

Introduction and Context

According to a January 22, 2025 fact-check article by AFP:

"The anti-parasitic drugs ivermectin and fenbendazole are not currently recommended for cancer, but posts spread across social media touting the medications after actor Mel Gibson claimed on the Joe Rogan Experience that they cured his friends' cases of the disease. Oncology experts said that even if the drugs show promise in trials, more research is needed to establish their efficacy in humans and safe methods of consumption."



The article makes a claim that "ivermectin and fenbendazole are not currently recommended for cancer" and "more research is needed to establish their efficacy in humans".

It's important to acknowledge that preclinical studies and case reports are common starting points in the research process before moving on to larger studies.

"The cure for cancer? It all started with a single case study."

Not all cancer types are the same.

When cancer has progressed to Stage 4—especially in cases of often-incurable cancers listed under the “Palliation Only (Metastatic)” category in the table below, where standard chemotherapy is largely ineffective—repurposed drugs may play a crucial role in making a difference.
Table Courtesy of Dr. Marik and Cancer Care

Scientific Evidence and Research Status

Joe Tippens and Kevin Hennings are popular examples of individuals achieving NED (No Evidence of Disease) with repurposed drug protocols. Tippens, diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer in 2016, claimed recovery using fenbendazole, vitamin E, and CBD oil, sharing his story on his blog, which has garnered significant attention (Joe Tippens Story).

Hennings, with stage 4 colorectal cancer, reported similar success, detailing his journey on his website and podcasts, attributing recovery to ivermectin and fenbendazole (Kevin Hennings Story).

Ivermectin and Cancer

  • 2024 Baghli et al - Targeting the Mitochondrial-Stem Cell Connection in Cancer Treatment: A Hybrid Orthomolecular Protocol - First-in-the-World Ivermectin, Mebendazole and Fenbendazole Protocol in Cancer, peer-reviewed and published on Sep.19, 2024. Co-authors include Dr Paul Marik and Dr William Makis.
  • 2024 Kaur et al - Ivermectin: A Multifaceted drug with a potential beyond anti-parasitic therapy
  • 2024 Goldfarb et al - Lipid-Restricted Culture Media Reveal Unexpected Cancer Cell Sensitivities
  • (2024 Newell et al) - Therapeutic targeting of nuclear export and import receptors in cancer and their potential in combination chemotherapy
  • Oct. 2, 2023 - IVERMECTIN and CANCER, it has at least 15 anti-cancer mechanisms of action. Can Ivermectin Treat COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Induced Turbo Cancers? - 9 Ivermectin papers reviewed
  • BLADDER CANCER - (2024 Fan et al) - Ivermectin Inhibits Bladder Cancer Cell Growth and Induces Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage
  • LUNG CANCER - (2024 Man-Yuan Li et al) - Ivermectin induces nonprotective autophagy by downregulating PAK1 and apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cells
  • GLIOMA - (2024 Xing Hu et al) - Ivermectin as a potential therapeutic strategy for glioma
  • MULTIPLE MYELOMA - (2024 Yang Song et al) - Gene signatures to therapeutics: Assessing the potential of ivermectin against t(4;14) multiple myeloma
  • OVARIAN CANCER - (2023 Jawad et al) - Ivermectin augments the anti-cancer activity of pitavastatin in ovarian cancer cells
  • PROSTATE CANCER - (2022 Lu et al) - Integrated analysis reveals FOXA1 and Ku70/Ku80 as targets of ivermectin in prostate cancer
  • COLON CANCER - (2022, Alghamdi et al) - Efficacy of ivermectin against colon cancer induced by dimethylhydrazine in male wistar rats
  • PANCREATIC CANCER - (2022 Lee et al) - Ivermectin and gemcitabine combination treatment induces apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells via mitochondrial dysfunction
  • MELANOMA - (2022 Zhang et al) - Drug repurposing of ivermectin abrogates neutrophil extracellular traps and prevents melanoma metastasis
  • CERVICAL CANCER - (2022, Qabbus et al) - Ivermectin-induced cell death of cervical cancer cells in vitro a consequence of precipitate formation in culture media
  • HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA - (2022 Lu et al) - Ivermectin synergizes sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting multiple oncogenic pathways
  • OSTEOSARCOMA - (2022 Hu et al) - Repurposing Ivermectin to augment chemotherapy’s efficacy in osteosarcoma
  • GASTRIC CANCER - (2021 Rabben et al) - Computational drug repositioning and experimental validation of ivermectin in treatment of gastric cancer
  • LEUKEMIA - (2020, de Castro et al) - Continuous high-dose ivermectin appears to be safe in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and could inform clinical repurposing for COVID-19 infection
  • ESOPHAGEAL SCC - (2020, Chen et al) - Ivermectin suppresses tumour growth and metastasis through degradation of PAK1 in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
  • CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA - (2019 Intyuod et al) - Anti-parasitic drug ivermectin exhibits potent anticancer activity against gemcitabine-resistant cholangiocarcinoma in vitro
  • BREAST CANCER STEM CELLS - (2018 Dominguez-Gomez et al) - Ivermectin as an inhibitor of cancer stem-like cells.
  • CML (CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA) - (2018 Wang et al) - Antibiotic ivermectin selectively induces apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia through inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.
  • RENAL CELL CARCINOMA - (2017 Zhu et al) - Antibiotic ivermectin preferentially targets renal cancer through inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage
  • GLIOBLASTOMA - (2016 Liu et al) - Anthelmintic drug ivermectin inhibits angiogenesis, growth and survival of glioblastoma through inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Related: 

Fenbendazole and Cancer

  • (2024 Apr, Rodrigues et al) - Repurposing mebendazole against triple-negative breast cancer CNS metastasis
  • (2024 Feb, Eid et al) - Investigating the Promising Anticancer Activity of Cetuximab and Fenbendazole Combination as Dual CBS and VEGFR-2 Inhibitors and Endowed with Apoptotic Potential
  • (2024 Feb, Park et al) - The microtubule cytoskeleton: A validated target for the development of 2-Aryl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents
  • (2024 Jan, Matsuo et al) - Parbendazole as a promising drug for inducing differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells with various subtypes
  • (2023, Dec, Iragavarapu-Charyulu et al) - A novel treatment to enhance survival for end stage triple negative breast cancer using repurposed veterinary anthelmintics combined with gut‑supporting/immune enhancing molecules
  • (2023 Nov, Aliabadi et al) - In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of mebendazole in colon cancer: a promising drug repositioning
  • (2023 Nov, Jung et al) - Fenbendazole Exhibits Differential Anticancer Effects In Vitro and In Vivo in Models of Mouse Lymphoma
  • (2023 Sep, Garg et al) - Network pharmacology and molecular docking study-based approach to explore mechanism of benzimidazole-based anthelmintics for the treatment of lung cancer
  • (2023 Jun, Mukherjee et al) - Ketogenic diet as a metabolic vehicle for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of mebendazole and devimistat in preclinical pediatric glioma
  • (2023 Feb, Lee et al) - Benzimidazole and its derivatives as cancer therapeutics: The potential role from traditional to precision medicine

Research Gaps and Future Directions

We acknowledge that double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the current gold standard in medical research. However, N=1 trials, open-label studies, and real-world data offer practical alternatives. While these approaches are less rigorous than RCTs—which are costly and time-consuming—they can still provide valuable insights, particularly for rare or advanced cancers. That said, their limitations, such as the absence of control groups and potential bias, must be carefully considered.

For patients with Stage 4 or aggressive cancers, exploring all available options is crucial given the high-stakes risk-benefit ratio. In such life-and-death situations, patients should have the "right to try."

By leveraging empirical evidence, clinical observations, and objective assessments such as cancer markers and PET scans, doctors can closely monitor both the effectiveness and safety of treatments.

Conclusion and Verdicts

  • Facebook's Verdict: Partly false (source). See below.

  • OneDayMD's Verdict: Partially true with cautious optimism. Be sure to discuss with your trusted healthcare provider and carefully weigh the potential benefits against the risks.
  • Dr John Campbell's Verdict: The consistency of anecdotal outcomes, supported by plausible preclinical mechanisms, positions fenbendazole as a promising candidate for further investigation in oncology. (source 2025)
  • Health and Me Verdict: "As of now, there is no solid evidence that ivermectin can cure or even treat cancer in humans." (source, 2025)
  • Science Feedback's Verdict: Unsupported (source)

Key Takeaway

While ivermectin and fenbendazole are not yet approved as standard cancer treatments, early research has revealed promising potential. Encouraged by compelling lab results, scientists are calling for more clinical trials to validate their effectiveness and ensure safe use in humans—potentially paving the way for innovative, accessible therapies that could change lives. As always, do your own research, consult with a trusted healthcare provider, and make informed decisions based on your individual circumstances.

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