Mebendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic medication widely used to treat intestinal worm infections such as roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, and pinworm. It works by inhibiting the formation of microtubules in parasitic worms, ultimately depleting their glucose stores and causing their death. First synthesized in 1968 by Janssen Pharmaceutica in Belgium, mebendazole became a major advancement in antiparasitic therapy due to its effectiveness, low systemic absorption, and favorable safety profile. Approved for medical use in the early 1970s, it quickly became a standard treatment in global public-health programs, especially in regions where soil-transmitted helminths are common. Over the decades, mebendazole has remained a cornerstone of deworming campaigns and continues to be valued for its reliability, affordability, and inclusion on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.
