Albendazole

Evidence Level: L5

Predicted Indications: 1

Albendazole

Pharmacist Assessment Report

Albendazole: Coenurosis

One-Sentence Summary

Albendazole is a benzimidazole anthelmintic widely marketed in India. The TxGNN model predicts it may be effective for coenurosis, a larval tapeworm (Taenia multiceps) cyst infection. The trials and publications compiled for this report concern neurocysticercosis, a related disease, and none studies coenurosis directly, so the support is by analogy only.

Quick Overview

Item	Content
Original Indication	Not recorded in the local data
Predicted New Indication	Coenurosis
TxGNN Prediction Score	0.9983
Evidence Level	L5
India Market Status	Listed in a compiled Indian medicine price dataset (at least 20) – CDSCO approval status is not included in this data
Number of Listed Products	at least 20
Recommended Decision	Hold

Why is This Prediction Reasonable?

Detailed mechanism of action data is not available in the data compiled for this report. Albendazole belongs to the benzimidazole class, which is generally understood to act by inhibiting beta-tubulin polymerisation in parasites. This is general class knowledge and not confirmed by the data compiled here.

Coenurosis is a cyst disease caused by the larval stage of a tapeworm (Taenia multiceps), and it resembles neurocysticercosis, a larval tapeworm disease of the central nervous system. The trials listed below were run in neurocysticercosis, so the link to coenurosis rests on this biological similarity. Coenurosis-specific evidence appears limited to case reports, and none is among the studies compiled for this report.

Because no cited study directly addresses coenurosis, the evidence level is capped at L5 (model prediction with only related-disease studies).

Clinical Trial Evidence

All trials below study neurocysticercosis, not coenurosis.

Trial Number	Phase	Status	Enrollment	Key Findings
NCT02243644	Phase 3	Completed	97	Two albendazole durations in neurocysticercosis with ≤5 brain lesions, assessed at 6 months
NCT00283699	Phase 3	Completed	178	Albendazole vs symptomatic treatment: clinical outcome and cyst disappearance
NCT00441285	Phase 2/3	Completed	156	Praziquantel plus albendazole combination: safety and efficacy
NCT00004403	NA	Completed	120	Albendazole in epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis
NCT00290823	Phase 3	Completed	110	Corticosteroid dosing and seizure frequency during treatment of intraparenchymal disease
NCT02947581	Phase 3	Terminated	107	Albendazole plus praziquantel vs albendazole alone in subarachnoid disease
NCT06376396	Phase 4	Not yet recruiting	300	Praziquantel plus albendazole vs albendazole alone in parenchymal disease
NCT00133458	Phase 3	Withdrawn	0	One vs two months of albendazole in subarachnoid disease; no data

Literature Evidence

The publications are reviews or case reports on neurocysticercosis or albendazole in general. None addresses coenurosis.

PMID	Year	Type	Journal	Key Findings
30366559	2018	Review	Neurologic Clinics	Neurocysticercosis presentations, diagnosis and therapy by lesion type
24365429	2014	Review	Handbook of Clinical Neurology	Neurocysticercosis as a leading cause of acquired epilepsy
23829921	2013	Review	Handbook of Clinical Neurology	Neurocysticercosis, including the Indian subcontinent
32129220	2020	Review	Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl	Neurocysticercosis overview
22702323	2012	Review	Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther	Solitary cysticercus granuloma, common in India
28233725	2017	Review	J Infect Public Health	Racemose neurocysticercosis, with a paediatric case
15853623	2004	Review	Expert Rev Neurother	Albendazole as the medication of choice for neurocysticercosis
1894783	1991	Case series	J Am Acad Dermatol	Subcutaneous cysticercosis; treatment options include albendazole

India Market Information

Albendazole is marketed in India, with 20 valid single-ingredient licences in the data compiled for this report (the list may be partial). Approved indication text is not recorded for these licences. Main examples:

Authorization Number	Product Name	Dosage Form	Approved Indication
242463	Wormivon 400mg Tablet	strip of 1 Tablet	Not recorded
11982	Alden 400mg Tablet	strip of 50 tablets	Not recorded
81868	Elminex 400mg Tablet	strip of 1 Tablet	Not recorded
33514	Banhelmin 200mg Suspension	bottle of 10 ml Suspension	Not recorded
226974	Tikworm Oral Drops	bottle of 10 ml Oral Drops	Not recorded

Safety Considerations

Disease-level cautions (not label text): Contraindication relations recorded for albendazole involve liver disease, gallbladder disease, and blood disorders (neutropenia, agranulocytosis, anaemia, macrocytic anaemia, pancytopenia, aplastic anaemia). These point to a need for liver and blood count monitoring, to be confirmed against the package insert.
Drug Interactions: 96 interactions were identified. Examples at moderate level: aprepitant, cobicistat, deferasirox, alemtuzumab, amprenavir, bendamustine, bosentan. Minor level: cimetidine, dexamethasone, lidocaine, armodafinil.

Package insert warnings and contraindications were not available; please refer to the package insert for full safety information.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Decision: Hold

Rationale: The TxGNN score is high (0.9983), but no cited trial or publication studies coenurosis directly. All supporting studies address neurocysticercosis, so the evidence level is L5 and the case rests on analogy.

To proceed, the following is needed:

Coenurosis-specific clinical data, such as case series or treatment reports with albendazole
Detailed mechanism of action data
Package insert warnings and contraindications for the Indian products
A safety monitoring plan covering liver function and blood counts, especially for prolonged courses

Disclaimer

This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.