William Makis Protocol Explained: Ivermectin, Fenbendazole and Mebendazole for Cancer — Evidence, Risks and Safe Use (2026 Guide)
Introduction of William Makis Protocol
Few names come up more often in online discussions of ivermectin and cancer than Dr. William Makis, a Canadian physician who publishes protocols combining ivermectin, fenbendazole and mebendazole with a set of supplements. Patients and families searching for options want straight answers to three questions: what is actually in the protocol, is there evidence that it works, and is it safe?
This guide answers those questions as plainly as the evidence allows. It is written for patients, caregivers and anyone who has seen the protocol shared on social media. It does not give protocol doses, and it does not claim that any of these medicines treat cancer, because no completed randomized trial has shown that they do.
The key points:
The protocol is built on laboratory research, animal studies, case reports and human studies that were not designed to test these drugs against cancer.
No large randomized controlled trial has tested the protocol in patients.
Doses described by advocates are far higher than approved antiparasitic doses, and that is the main safety concern.
None of these drugs is FDA-approved for cancer. Anyone considering them should tell their oncologist and should not delay or replace proven treatment.
Our related evidence guides: [Ivermectin in Cancer Care: The 2026 Evidence] and [Ivermectin and Fenbendazole for Cancer: What the 2026 Science Shows]
What Is the Makis Protocol?
The Makis protocol is an experimental, off-label approach described online by Dr. William Makis. It combines three antiparasitic drugs with supplements and other measures. It is related to, but not the same as, the better-known Joe Tippens protocol, which centers on fenbendazole. Descriptions of the protocol vary between websites and over time, so the table below shows what advocates and summaries commonly list, not a standard of care.
Component | Role described by advocates | Regulatory status |
Ivermectin | Multi-pathway anti-cancer effects seen in the laboratory | FDA-approved for certain parasitic infections; not approved for cancer |
Fenbendazole | Disrupts cell division and glucose use in laboratory studies | Veterinary dewormer; not approved for human use |
Mebendazole | Same drug family as fenbendazole, with more human data | FDA-approved antiparasitic; not approved for cancer |
Reported add-ons (doxycycline, metformin, curcumin, berberine, vitamin D, other supplements, diet changes) | Described as supportive or metabolic measures | Each approved or sold for other purposes; none is established as a cancer treatment within this protocol |
Versions of the protocol sold or discussed online are sometimes called "aggressive" or "maintenance" regimens. The cancers it is said to target range from breast and prostate to pancreatic cancer and lymphoma. No such list reflects clinical trial evidence.
Who Is Dr. William Makis?
William Makis is described in online summaries as a Canadian nuclear medicine physician who has become a prominent online voice for repurposed drugs in cancer. Several summaries report that his Alberta medical license is listed as inactive, and one reports a court injunction against practicing medicine in Alberta. Those are secondary reports, not official records, and license status can change. If it matters to your decision, check the public register of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (cpsa.ca).
His protocols are published online and in case reports, not through randomized trials. A person's reputation, whether admired or criticized, is not evidence. A treatment should be judged by the quality of the trials behind it.
One more point of caution: the phrase "turbo cancer", used in some marketing of this protocol, is not a recognized medical diagnosis.
What Evidence Exists?
Item | Best evidence available | What it does not show |
Ivermectin | Laboratory and animal studies; observational reports; at least one early-phase trial registered to test it with immunotherapy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (NCT05318469) | No completed randomized trial showing benefit in patients |
Mebendazole | Phase 1 data from Johns Hopkins, and a Phase 2 randomized trial adding mebendazole to chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer (reported in Life Sciences, 2022, per secondary summaries) | These trials did not test the full multi-drug protocol, and mebendazole is not approved for cancer |
Fenbendazole | Cell and animal studies, patient self-reports, and a registered Phase I safety trial with chemotherapy (NCT06112379) | No completed human efficacy trial |
The combination of all three | Case series, including a small series of 18 cases described by Dr. Makis in 2026 | No controlled data. Case series cannot show that a drug caused a result |
Supplements and diet | Assorted laboratory data | Not shown to treat cancer |
The nonprofit fact-checking organization Science Feedback reviewed the protocol that Dr. Makis co-authored and concluded that the evidence it cited could not reliably answer whether ivermectin and mebendazole are effective against cancer in people. It found that the protocol relied on laboratory and animal studies, anecdotal case reports, and human studies that were not designed to assess these drugs against cancer.
This does not mean these drugs have no potential. Researchers are studying several of them, and the NCI has described preclinical work on ivermectin. It means the question is open, and open questions are answered by trials, not by case reports.
Science Feedback review: https://science.feedback.org/review/lack-evidence-cancer-treatment-protocol-recommends-antiparasitic-drugs-ivermectin-mebendazole/
Why Dose Is the Central Safety Issue
Summaries of the protocol describe ivermectin at about 1 to 2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day in aggressive cases. The usual antiparasitic dose is around 0.2 mg per kilogram, often taken once or twice. In other words, the protocol doses described are many times higher than approved doses and are taken daily for long periods. They have not been validated in controlled trials, and neurological side effects have been reported at very high ivermectin doses.
This post does not provide protocol doses, and nothing here should be read as dosing advice. The risks of high or prolonged use include:
Neurological effects from ivermectin, such as confusion, drowsiness and unsteady walking, especially when taken with medicines that raise ivermectin levels in the brain.
Liver injury. Fenbendazole and mebendazole are processed by the liver, and liver enzyme rises and drug-induced liver injury have been reported, so liver tests are essential for anyone using them.
Drug interactions. Ivermectin and the supplements often paired with it can affect liver enzymes that process chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy support medicines, blood thinners and others, which can raise their levels to toxic ranges.
Bone marrow suppression with prolonged high-dose mebendazole, reported in other settings.
Pregnancy. These drugs are generally avoided, particularly early in pregnancy.
Treatment delay. The biggest danger described by oncologists is a patient with a treatable cancer who postpones surgery, radiation or chemotherapy while trying an unproven regimen.
Safety at the doses used to treat worms does not automatically transfer to doses many times higher.
Claims Versus Reality
Claim | What is accurate |
"The protocol is peer-reviewed, so it is proven" | Publication is not proof of benefit. Science Feedback found the cited evidence did not show effectiveness in people |
"Case reports prove it works" | Many patients also received conventional treatment, and case reports cannot show cause and effect |
"Higher doses are needed" | Not validated, and higher doses raise the chance of toxicity |
"These drugs are old, so they must be safe" | Safety at antiparasitic doses does not transfer to much higher, long-term doses |
"It is sold online, so it is approved" | Availability does not equal approval or proof of benefit |
"A doctor's name makes it evidence" | Judge treatments by trial evidence, not by who promotes them |
If You Are Considering It
1. Keep your cancer treatment going. The most credible reports involve people who used these drugs alongside, not instead of, standard treatment.
2. Tell your oncologist everything you take, including ivermectin, fenbendazole, mebendazole and supplements, so interactions can be checked.
3. Ask for baseline liver and kidney tests, and for repeat tests if you take any of these drugs for a long time.
4. Ask about clinical trials at ClinicalTrials.gov. Trials are the safest way to access experimental approaches.
5. Do not use veterinary products, and do not use horse or livestock formulations.
6. Avoid protocols that tell you to stop or delay proven treatment.
7. Be wary of anyone selling a "cure", a guarantee, or a bundle of products with cancer claims.
8. Report any unusual symptoms, such as yellow skin or eyes, severe nausea, confusion, rash or numbness, to your care team promptly.
For managing the side effects of standard treatment, see: [Cancer Treatment Side Effects: Complete 2026 Management Guide]
Our Products and How to Buy Safely
TheMedicineKart stocks the following medicines for patients with a valid prescription. The table shows what each is approved for in the United States. None of them is FDA-approved to treat cancer, and nothing on this page is a claim that any of them does.
Product | Approved use in the US | Note |
Certain parasitic infections, such as strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis | Dose must be set by a prescriber and based on body weight | |
Intestinal worm infections | Not approved for cancer | |
Approved only as a veterinary dewormer | Not FDA-approved for human use; discuss with a clinician before any use | |
Bacterial infections, including acne | Not approved as a cancer treatment |
Whichever pharmacy you use, look for these signs of a trustworthy source:
It asks for a valid prescription and verifies it.
Pharmacists or clinicians are available to answer questions.
Manufacturer and batch details are listed on the product.
It does not make cancer-cure claims or guarantee results.
It tells you to talk to your oncologist.
For our related guides on the individual drugs, see: [Fenbendazole Absorption, Supplement Protocol and Cancer-Type Evidence] and [Covilife MBD 275: Ivermectin and Mebendazole Guide]
The ongoing early-phase ivermectin trial with immunotherapy is listed at ClinicalTrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05318469
NPR's 2026 report on ivermectin and cancer patients, including doctors' concerns about delayed treatment, is available at: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/02/ivermectin-takes-off-among-cancer-patients/
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the William Makis protocol?
It is an experimental, off-label approach described online by Dr. William Makis that combines ivermectin, fenbendazole and mebendazole with supplements and sometimes diet changes. It is related to the Joe Tippens protocol. Descriptions vary, and none is a standard of care. No large randomized trial has tested it in patients.
Is the Makis protocol proven to treat cancer?
No. Science Feedback concluded the evidence cited by the protocol, which consists of laboratory and animal studies, anecdotal case reports and human studies not designed to test these drugs against cancer, cannot show that it works in people. Some of the individual drugs are being studied in early trials, but none is FDA-approved for cancer.
Is William Makis a licensed doctor?
Several summaries report that his Alberta medical license is listed as inactive, and one reports a court injunction against practicing medicine there. These are secondary reports. You can verify license status on the public register of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
Is it safe to take ivermectin, fenbendazole and mebendazole together?
Safety at antiparasitic doses does not transfer to the much higher doses described in these protocols. Risks include neurological effects, liver injury, drug interactions with cancer treatments and other medicines, and delays to proven treatment. Anyone considering them should tell their oncologist, get liver tests, and avoid veterinary products.
Can I use the protocol instead of chemotherapy?
No. The most credible reports involve people who used these drugs alongside standard treatment. Oncologists warn that replacing or delaying proven treatment can allow a curable cancer to progress. Talk to your oncology team, continue your treatment, and ask about clinical trials.
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