Ezetimibe repurposing as an antiparasitic drug?

#1

Brazilian paper, I don’t know how serious that is, but I found it interesting: In silico comparative analysis of cestode and human NPC1 provides insights for ezetimibe repurposing to visceral cestodiases treatment 2024

Visceral cestodiases, like cysticercoses and echinococcoses, are caused by cystic larvae from parasites of the Cestoda class and are endemic or hyperendemic in many areas of the world. Current therapeutic approaches for these diseases are complex and present limitations and risks. Therefore, new safer and more effective treatments are urgently needed. The Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) protein is a cholesterol transporter that, based on genomic data, would be the solely responsible for cholesterol uptake in cestodes. Considering that human NPC1L1 is a known target of ezetimibe, used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, it has the potential for repurposing for the treatment of visceral cestodiases. Here, phylogenetic, selective pressure and structural in silico analyses were carried out to assess NPC1 evolutive and structural conservation, especially between cestode and human orthologs. Two NPC1 orthologs were identified in cestode species (NPC1A and NPC1B), which likely underwent functional divergence, leading to the loss of cholesterol transport capacity in NPC1A. Comparative interaction analyses performed by molecular docking of ezetimibe with human NPC1L1 and cestode NPC1B pointed out to similarities that consolidate the idea of cestode NPC1B as a target for the repurposing of ezetimibe as a drug for the treatment of visceral cestodiases.

So if you ever have a taenia (flatworm) in your body, taking ezetimibe might be worth a try as it might have anthelmintic properties…

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#2

Any other beneficial effects to medications I am currently taking are always welcome. Thanks! :smile:

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#3

Ivermectin is still king. Got rid of a nasty scabies infection I had once in combination with benzyl benzoate.

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#5

I think the NPC1L1 mendelian randomization research would be interesting to research further.

Interestingly, all of the recent NPC1L1 MR papers are all from China. There is only about 71 papers, though.

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#6

Interesting, what protcol did you use to treat the scabies?

#7
  • Benzyl benzoate - dozens of times applied across the body (BURNS!!!)
  • Ivermectin used at high dose over 10 weeks, twice per week (making sure)
  • Sleep on different location every week
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#8

The published literature on this topic demonstrates two doses, one initially and one in 7-14 days has at least the same efficacy as other standard treatments for scabies or for lice (usually only requires a single dose). Each dose is 200 mcg/kg.
I’ve used this at times for at least 20 years … it’s actually the only thing I’ve Rx’d ivermectin for.

Just looking Otc at Walgreens Ivermectin Lotion for lice. 0.5% 4oz for $35.

@adssx on the original topic … I guess if you live in a worm endemic area … maybe ezetimibe users have lower rates of infection? I’d go for some pyrantel if I had a worm before hunting down ezetimibe.

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