Ivermectin is making a post-pandemic comeback, among cancer patients

The anti-parasitic drug ivermectin, which gained notoriety during the COVID-19 pandemic, is experiencing a resurgence in March 2026 as an alternative cancer treatment despite lacking scientific evidence, with five state legislatures in Tennessee, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Texas voting to make it available over-the-counter, while farmers like Mississippi's MaryJo Perry promote its use and oncologists express concern about patients substituting proven treatments. Ivermectin has a long history as a treatment for parasitic infections and tropical diseases, dating back to its discovery in the 1970s. It has been instrumental in reducing cases of river blindness worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the drug surged in popularity, with prescriptions reaching ten times pre-pandemic levels, particularly in the Southern United States among older, more vulnerable patients. Despite dozens of studies later confirming its ineffectiveness against COVID-19, the drug maintained its popularity, fueled by misinformation and promoted by conservative media personalities like Laura Ingraham and Joe Rogan. A pivotal moment came when actor Mel Gibson suggested on Joe Rogan's podcast that ivermectin had cured three friends of advanced cancer, further driving interest in the drug. The political polarization surrounding ivermectin intensified as the Biden administration issued controversial warnings against its use, including a now-deleted FDA tweet stating, 'You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it.' This approach, according to researchers like Carlos Chaccour, only escalated tensions. The drug's resurgence is particularly concerning to medical professionals like New Orleans oncologist Jonathan Mizrahi, who reports that nearly half of his new patients now inquire about ivermectin for cancer treatment. Mizrahi has witnessed firsthand how some patients, influenced by disinformation, have refused proven treatments like chemotherapy in favor of ivermectin and other alternative remedies, sometimes with devastating consequences.