A newly published observational study reports that 84.4% of cancer patients who took a compounded combination of ivermectin and mebendazole experienced a clinical benefit. The research, conducted by The Wellness Company’s Chief Medical Board along with the McCullough Foundation and led by Dr. Peter McCullough, was published in the journal Anticancer Research.
The study followed 197 cancer patients who took a U.S.-compounded version of the two drugs: 25 mg of ivermectin combined with 250 mg of mebendazole. Of those, 122 patients reached a six-month follow-up point, where researchers tracked outcomes tied to the treatment.
Both drugs are FDA-approved, inexpensive and have been used for decades to treat parasitic infections. Ivermectin won its developers a Nobel Prize. Researchers behind the study believe ivermectin may disrupt pathways that tumors use to grow and trigger cell death in cancerous cells, while mebendazole is thought to cut off the glucose supply that abnormal cells need to survive. Combining them into a single capsule, researchers say, gave patients a simple, easy-to-follow regimen.
“This study reveals an exciting new potential that should expand the consideration of ivermectin and mebendazole for inclusion in the treatment of multiple cancer types,” Dr. McCullough said. “We urgently need a full-fledged scientific investigation into this class of medications and their impact on cancer treatment.”
Why It Matters
Roughly one in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Standard treatments — chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapies — often bring significant side effects, high costs and inconsistent results. That gap is part of what pushed researchers to study whether two long-approved, low-cost drugs might offer an additional option.
The study arrives against a backdrop of declining public trust in the medical establishment. Surveys cited alongside the research show that 71.5% of Americans said in April 2020 they placed “a lot of trust” in doctors and hospitals. By January 2024, that number had dropped to 40.1%.
What the Study Doesn’t Say
The report is an observational analysis, not a randomized controlled trial, and it was produced in partnership with The Wellness Company, which markets and sells the compounded ivermectin-mebendazole combination directly to consumers. The company describes itself as the only one currently offering this specific U.S.-compounded formulation by prescription.
Patient testimonials promoted alongside the study, including accounts from individuals describing dramatic improvements in advanced cancer cases, are anecdotal and have not been independently verified as part of the peer-reviewed research.
Dr. McCullough’s own statement calls for a “full-fledged scientific investigation,” suggesting that even researchers involved in the study view it as an early signal rather than a settled finding. Patients considering off-label treatments should consult their own physicians before making treatment decisions.
