Recent research explores Ivermectin’s role in cancer therapy and viral disease treatment

By Sacred Leaves Global Medical News | July 2025

Ivermectin, best known as an antiparasitic medication, is drawing renewed interest in oncology and virology. Recent preclinical and early clinical data demonstrate that ivermectin may have anticancer and antiviral effects—but experts urge caution pending more rigorous trials.

Ivermectin in Cancer Research

Laboratory Insights
Studies increasingly show ivermectin's ability to fight cancer through multiple mechanisms:

• Cancer stem cell inhibition: Research shows ivermectin targets critical regulators of stemness like NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4, hindering self-renewal of aggressive cancer cells Oncology News Central+9Integrative Cancer Care+9Men's Health+9.
  
  
• Drug resistance reversal: Ivermectin suppresses P-glycoprotein, which normally expels chemotherapy drugs. In lab tests, resistant leukemia, colorectal, lung, and breast cancer cells became significantly more sensitive to treatment—up to 60-fold in earlier models Integrative Cancer Care.
  
  
• Immunomodulation: A 2021 study in a breast cancer mouse model showed ivermectin triggered immunogenic cell death, increasing T-cell tumor infiltration and enhancing responses to anti-PD-1 therapy Wikipedia+14Integrative Cancer Care+14CancerChoices+14.
  
  

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials such as NCT05318469 (phase I/II) exploring ivermectin combined with checkpoint inhibitors (balstilimab) in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer Integrative Cancer Care+1Gateway For Cancer Research -+1. Early-stage data are pending.

Ivermectin as an Antiviral

COVID-19 and Beyond

While laboratory data indicated ivermectin could block nuclear import of certain RNA viruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), clinical studies largely showed no significant benefits in COVID-19 treatment. Some trials noted minor symptom relief without affecting mortality or hospitalization rates Men's Health+9Wikipedia+9ASCO Publications+9BioMed Central+7Wikipedia+7PMC+7. A Sri Lankan RCT confirmed reduced viral load but no difference in clinical outcomes PMC.

Other Viral Infections

Ivermectin’s mechanism of impeding importin α/β transport has prompted interest in its use against dengue, Zika, and other RNA viruses, but clinical evidence remains limited MDPI+1Wikipedia+1. Notably, WHO, FDA, and EMA do not recommend ivermectin for viral diseases outside research settings .

Safety and Public Misconceptions

Ivermectin is generally well-tolerated at approved doses for parasitic infections, with rare adverse events. However, high doses carry neurological and liver toxicity risks Men's Health+15Wikipedia+15PMC+15.

Despite regulatory warnings and unsupportive evidence, some political groups in the U.S. have made ivermectin available over the counter, raising concerns about misuse Pharmacy Times.

Future Directions

• Cancer: Promising preclinical results warrant well-designed clinical trials, especially using ivermectin to improve chemotherapy response or augment immunotherapy.
  
  
• Viral diseases: Future studies must identify safe, effective dosing protocols—current evidence remains inconclusive.
  
  
• Public health: Clear guidance and education are essential to separate scientific potential from political hype and misinformation.
  
  

Conclusion

Ivermectin exhibits intriguing anticancer and antiviral mechanisms in labs and early studies, but its clinical utility beyond parasitic infection is not yet established. Ongoing trials may shed clearer light on its role in oncology, while antiviral use should remain constrained to validated research protocols.

Sources:

• In vitro and animal research on ivermectin’s anticancer mechanisms The Washington Post
  
  
• ClinicalTrials.gov studies (NCT05318469) Integrative Cancer Care
  
  
• COVID-19 antiviral trials and meta-analyses
  
  

Regulatory statements on ivermectin safety