This is a remarkable story about a little pill that began use as a worm treatment for children, and became a medicine to treat, and prevent, cancer.

Most of us are familiar with this medication. It is mebendazole (MBZ), but is better known as Vermox, Ovex, Antiox, and Pripsen. It is usually used to treat pinworms, roundworms, whip worms, and hookworms. Children sometimes acquire these parasites (adults can as well), and the whole family is given a prescription for mebendazole. I have written for this many times over the past 32 years.

Mebendazole has been in common use for over forty years as an antiparasitic, and has a good safety profile. It is fairly inexpensive, at about 2-3 dollars a pill.

But here’s the amazing news! This little pill, known for its good safety profile and few side effects, has been used to treat, and prevent cancer.