Does ivermectin have a place in cancer treatment?

There is currently no solid scientific evidence that ivermectin has a place in the treatment of cancer. Ivermectin is a drug originally developed to treat parasitic infections such as river blindness and scabies.

Some laboratory and animal studies have suggested that ivermectin may have some antitumor effects. These effects are often related to mechanisms such as inhibition of cell growth.

To date, no sufficiently large, controlled clinical trial has been conducted to demonstrate that ivermectin is effective or safe for treating cancer in humans.

Many of the studies showing positive results are in early research phases. The dosages of ivermectin used in some laboratory experiments are often much higher than what is safe for use in humans.

At this time, ivermectin is not approved or recommended by medical authorities, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA), for the treatment of cancer. Its use outside of its approved indications is discouraged.

While it is interesting that ivermectin may have anticancer properties in laboratory studies, more robust research is needed to determine whether it can be an effective and safe treatment for cancer in humans. For now, it is important to rely on proven treatments and follow the advice of oncologists.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2025-01-17 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025