Lindane

Evidence Level: L5 Predicted Indications: 10

Table of Contents

  1. Lindane
    1. Pharmacist Assessment Report
    2. Lindane: Cervical neuroblastoma
    3. One-Sentence Summary
    4. Quick Overview
    5. Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
    6. India Market Information
    7. Safety Considerations
    8. Conclusion and Next Steps
    9. Disclaimer

Pharmacist Assessment Report

Lindane: Cervical neuroblastoma

One-Sentence Summary

Lindane is an organochlorine topical antiparasitic, originally used to treat scabies (including Norwegian scabies), head and pubic lice, and mite infestations. The TxGNN model predicts it may be effective for cervical neuroblastoma, but no clinical trials and no publications currently support this prediction, so it rests on a computational score alone.

Quick Overview

Item Content
Original Indication Not recorded in the local data
Predicted New Indication Cervical neuroblastoma
TxGNN Prediction Score 0.9991
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?

Currently, detailed mechanism of action data is not available in the data compiled for this report. Lindane is known as an organochlorine insecticide that acts as a GABA-A receptor antagonist. Its efficacy in scabies and lice is established, but this is a parasiticidal effect on the pest’s nervous system.

No mechanistic link has been identified between this action and neuroblastoma. The very high score (0.9991) comes from the TxGNN model (deep learning) and may reflect similarities the model learned between related diseases, not biological evidence. Other top-ranked predictions are also tumour or cyst conditions of the head and neck (for example benign neoplasm of tongue, epiglottis neoplasm, odontogenic cyst, inner ear neoplasm). All are L5 with no supporting studies, which suggests a systematic pattern in the model’s predictions rather than a drug-specific signal.

Lindane also has well-documented neurotoxicity (seizure risk) and carcinogenicity concerns, which argue against its use in oncology.

India Market Information

Authorization Number Product Name Dosage Form Approved Indication
202944 Scabex S Lotion Lotion, 100 ml bottle Not stated in the data
165108 Olscab C Lotion Lotion, 100 ml bottle Not stated in the data
207147 Scabac Lotion Lotion, 100 ml bottle Not stated in the data
131284 Linscab Lotion Lotion, 100 ml bottle Not stated in the data
96831 Gamascab 1% Cream Cream, 15 g tube Not stated in the data

All 20 registrations are valid single-ingredient products (lotions, creams, solution, liquid and soaps); the table shows the first five.

Safety Considerations

  • Disease associations flagged in the knowledge graph (contraindication edges, not label text): epilepsy, cirrhosis of liver, atopic eczema/atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, parapsoriasis, substance abuse/dependence, skin disease, actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis.
  • Drug Interactions: 179 interactions are recorded. Major-level examples include bupropion, iopamidol and iohexol. Moderate-level examples include morphine, levofloxacin, metoclopramide, promethazine, ephedrine, phentermine, fenfluramine and sibutramine.
  • Other concerns noted in the prediction review: neurotoxicity (seizures), systemic absorption and carcinogenicity classification, which weigh against exploratory use.

Please refer to the package insert for label warnings and contraindications, which were not available in the data compiled for this report.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Decision: Hold

Rationale: The prediction is supported only by a model score (L5), with no clinical trials, no literature and no plausible mechanism. Lindane’s neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity concerns make oncology repurposing unattractive.

To proceed, the following is needed:

  • Package insert warnings and contraindications from the India regulatory source (currently blocking safety screening)
  • Mechanism of action data from DrugBank
  • Preclinical evidence showing a biological link to neuroblastoma
  • A safety and route-of-administration assessment, since the available products are topical only

    Disclaimer

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