An investigation has revealed that animal dewormer and a drug used for scabies are being promoted and sold as unproven cancer treatments. An undercover journalist was able to purchase fenbendazole and ivermectin from a stairlift salesman in south Wales, and these products were also found for sale on Amazon.
Macmillan Cancer Support has voiced concerns about these findings, noting an increasing number of people asking about these medicines despite a lack of clinical evidence supporting their efficacy against cancer. Amazon removed the products after being contacted, stating it has measures to prevent prohibited items from being listed by third-party sellers.
Senior doctors are worried that vulnerable patients could be put at risk, as taking these medicines might cause harm or delay conventional treatment. Ivermectin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK and is not licensed for cancer treatment by the MHRA. Fenbendazole, an animal dewormer, is not licensed for human use in the UK.
While some trials exist into their anti-cancer properties, Macmillan Cancer Support stated there is "zero real-world clinical evidence" to back claims about ivermectin. Cancer Research UK also warned that, despite some anti-cancer data from testing fenbendazole in mice, there is no scientific evidence it works in people.
The MHRA has seized 27,500 doses of fenbendazole and 124,000 doses of ivermectin intended for human use since 2024. Supplying prescription-only medicines without being an "appropriate practitioner" is an offence under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.