Mel Gibson's Unproven Cancer Cure Claims

Prescriptions for ivermectin and fenbendazole, both antiparasitic drugs, significantly increased after actor Mel Gibson claimed on Joe Rogan's podcast in January 2025 that these unproven treatments cured cancer in his friends. A study published in JAMA Network Open, with contributions from researchers at United States — West Virginia, University of Utah, and University of California, Los Angeles, analyzed electronic medical records of over 68 million patients in the United States. The study found that overall prescriptions for these drugs doubled, and for cancer patients, rates increased 2.5 times in the six months following Gibson's endorsement compared to the previous year. Experts, including those from the United States — National Cancer Institute, emphasize that there are no clinical trials proving the safety or efficacy of ivermectin or fenbendazole for treating cancer in humans, and the doses required for any potential anti-cancer effect would likely be toxic. The event raises concerns about medical misinformation, the power of celebrity influence, and the potential for patients to delay or forgo conventional, proven cancer treatments in favor of unverified alternatives.