Mebendazole
| 證據等級: L5 | 預測適應症: 1 個 |
目錄
Mebendazole: From Anthelmintic Use to Acne (Disease)
One-Sentence Summary
Mebendazole is a benzimidazole-class anthelmintic (deworming) drug used to treat parasitic infections; official original-indication data is not on file for this evidence pack. The TxGNN model predicts it may be effective for Acne (Disease), with no clinical trials and only 1 tangentially related case report currently identified. Both the mechanism-of-action data and the safety/label data needed to evaluate this prediction are marked as blocking gaps, so the evidentiary basis is essentially the model score alone.
Quick Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Original Indication | Not available in licenses data (drug not marketed in Taiwan); mechanistic notes describe it as a benzimidazole-class anthelmintic |
| Predicted New Indication | Acne (disease) |
| TxGNN Prediction Score | 99.20% |
| Evidence Level | L5 |
| US Market Status | Not Marketed |
| Number of NDAs | 0 |
| Recommended Decision | Hold |
Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
Detailed mechanism-of-action data is not available (flagged as a High-severity data gap, DG002). Based on the information available in this evidence pack, mebendazole is a benzimidazole-class anthelmintic whose known mechanism is inhibition of parasitic β-tubulin polymerization, which disrupts microtubule formation in helminths.
This mechanism has separately been explored in oncology contexts for potential anti-mitotic and anti-angiogenic activity, but there is no established pharmacological link between this mechanism and acne, which is driven by sebaceous gland inflammation and Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes-related pathology. No shared pathway between the original anthelmintic use and the predicted dermatological indication has been identified in the source data.
Because the drug-level MOA record itself is a data gap, no compound-level mechanistic reasoning can be constructed to support this prediction. The TxGNN score of 0.99 reflects a knowledge-graph link prediction only and should not be interpreted as mechanistic or clinical evidence.
Clinical Trial Evidence
Currently no related clinical trials registered.
Literature Evidence
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7072899 | 1982 | Case Report | The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | Case report of human proliferative sparganosis (a parasitic infection) presenting with acne-like nodular/papular skin lesions; “acne-like” is used descriptively for lesion appearance, not as a treated indication. No data on mebendazole efficacy in acne. |
US Market Information
Currently no marketing authorization on file (market status: Not Marketed; 0 licenses recorded).
Safety Considerations
Please refer to the package insert for safety information.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Decision: Hold
Rationale: There are no clinical trials and no genuinely relevant literature supporting mebendazole for acne — the single retrieved publication is a case report on an unrelated parasitic disease that only uses “acne-like” as a lesion descriptor. Combined with two blocking/high-severity data gaps (TFDA label/warnings data and mechanism-of-action data), there is insufficient evidence to proceed past model prediction (L5).
To proceed, the following is needed:
- Mechanism-of-action data from DrugBank to establish a plausible pharmacological rationale (DG002)
- TFDA label warnings/contraindications to complete a baseline safety assessment (DG001, blocking)
- A targeted literature search specifically evaluating mebendazole (or benzimidazoles) in dermatologic/acne-relevant contexts
- Preclinical or mechanistic studies linking β-tubulin inhibition to sebaceous gland or C. acnes-related pathways, if this direction is to be pursued further
Disclaimer
This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.