In recent years, repurposed drugs like ivermectin — long known as a safe, Nobel Prize-honored antiparasitic — have attracted intense interest as potential adjuncts in cancer care. One of the most prominent voices advocating this approach is Dr. William Makis, a Canadian radiologist and oncologist who has built one of the world’s largest patient cohorts using ivermectin-based protocols, often in combination with fenbendazole or other agents.
A widely shared video clip (posted February 16, 2026, by @Ivermectinkart) summarizes what Dr. Makis calls one of the “most critical graphs” of his career: a weight-based ivermectin dosing schedule tailored to different cancer scenarios.
The Core Recommendation: 1 mg/kg/day as a Starting Point
For many solid tumors and hematologic cancers — including breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, renal, gastric, leukemias, and others — Dr. Makis suggests starting at 1 mg/kg body weight per day.
- For a 60 kg (132 lb) person: ≈ 60 mg daily
(e.g., five 12 mg tablets or roughly 6 ml of a standard 1% oral solution — about one teaspoon plus 1 ml)
He describes this as straightforward and very safe based on:
- Long-term case reports showing months to over a year of continuous use with minimal serious side effects.
- A 2020 study (de Castro et al.) where cancer patients tolerated up to 1 mg/kg daily for 180 days without major toxicity.
- Historical safety data from healthy volunteers tolerating single doses as high as 2 mg/kg.
Dose Escalation for Aggressive or “Turbo” Cancers
For particularly aggressive cases (e.g., high-grade pancreatic, brain tumors, or rapidly progressing metastatic disease), Dr. Makis and collaborating clinicians sometimes escalate:
- 1.5–2 mg/kg/day (or even up to 2.5 mg/kg in select reports)
- Transient side effects like visual disturbances (blurred vision, color changes) have been noted at the highest doses but reportedly resolve after dose reduction or pause.
Supporting anecdotes cited include:
- A terminal gallbladder cancer case (via Dr. Landrito’s network) where the disease reportedly cleared after 14 months at 2 mg/kg/day.
- Prostate cancer cases with dramatic PSA drops (e.g., from 89 to 11 on 45 mg/day per Dr. Shankara Chetty).
- Ovarian cancer marker (CA125) reductions (e.g., from 288 to 22 on lower doses of ~0.2 mg/kg).
Dr. Makis emphasizes that lower doses (0.5 mg/kg, 3×/week) may suffice for remission maintenance, prophylaxis, or lower-grade disease, while higher doses target more biologically aggressive tumors.
The Scientific Backdrop in 2026
Preclinical research (cell lines, animal models, organoids) continues to grow, showing ivermectin can:
- Disrupt mitochondrial function in cancer cells
- Induce autophagy and apoptosis
- Inhibit glycolysis and stem-cell-like properties
- Synergize with chemotherapy or immunotherapy in some models
A 2025 hybrid orthomolecular review (ISOM journal) and multiple 2024–2025 papers highlight these mechanisms, often positioning ivermectin as a mitochondrial-targeted agent with a wide therapeutic window.
However, human evidence remains limited:
- No large, randomized controlled trials exist for ivermectin monotherapy or combinations in cancer.
- One ongoing Phase I/II trial (NCT05318469) combines ivermectin with balstilimab or pembrolizumab in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer; early data (ASCO 2025) showed mixed results with low objective response rates in a small cohort.
- The U.S. National Cancer Institute initiated preclinical work in late 2025/early 2026 to better characterize ivermectin’s cancer-cell-killing properties, driven partly by public interest — with results expected soon.
- Institutional reviews (e.g., MD Anderson 2020–2024 data) document rising patient self-use of ivermectin/fenbendazole (still <0.2% of patients), but no conclusions on efficacy due to uncontrolled dosing.
Mainstream oncology organizations and many academic centers continue to caution that evidence is insufficient to recommend ivermectin outside trials, citing risks of delaying proven therapies, potential drug interactions, and variable product quality when sourced informally.
Why the Interest Persists
Ivermectin is generic, extremely low-cost, and has an extraordinary safety record from billions of human doses worldwide. Large randomized oncology trials are rare for off-patent drugs due to funding challenges. This vacuum has fueled patient-driven experimentation, clinician case series, and online communities sharing stories of tumor marker reductions, stabilized scans, or unexpected remissions — often in combination with dietary changes (e.g., ketogenic), fenbendazole/mebendazole, or standard care.
Dr. Makis’ clinic reportedly now follows thousands of patients, and high-profile endorsements (e.g., mentions by Mel Gibson on major podcasts) have amplified visibility.
Bottom Line for Readers
The 1 mg/kg/day protocol Dr. Makis promotes is rooted in accumulating preclinical signals, observational safety data, and a growing number of individual success stories. For many, it represents a low-risk adjunct worth discussing with an open-minded physician — especially when conventional options are exhausted or intolerable.
That said, this is not mainstream oncology guidance in 2026. Anyone considering ivermectin (or any repurposed drug) for cancer should:
- Consult a knowledgeable doctor who can monitor labs, imaging, and interactions.
- Use pharmaceutical-grade product from a trusted source.
- View it as experimental and complementary — never a guaranteed substitute for evidence-based treatments.
The conversation around ivermectin in cancer is evolving rapidly. Stay informed, question boldly, but always prioritize safety and personalized medical advice.
What are your thoughts? Have you or someone you know explored repurposed drugs in cancer care? Share (respectfully) in the comments.
(Disclaimer: This post summarizes publicly discussed information and is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Consult qualified healthcare professionals before starting or changing any treatment.)