Worm tablet could be repurposed as brain cancer treatment

MedicalXpress | Jun 05, 2026

A drug widely used to combat intestinal worms has shown promise in treating brain tumors, with scientists calling for more trials to confirm it works in humans. A systematic review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and co-authored by Bond University researchers found mebendazole (MBZ) consistently slowed tumor growth in laboratory and animal tests. It doubled survival rates in mice, and in one study, MBZ combined with radiotherapy left more than half of mice tumor-free over the long term.