Pyrvinium is an anthelmintic and anticancer agent.1,2 Dietary administration of pyrvinium reduces worm burden in mouse models of N. dubius, S. obvelata, or A. tetraptera infection (EC50s = 292, 4, and 17 ppm, respectively) but is lethal to mice at higher concentrations (LC50 = 600 ppm).1 Pyrvinium (1 μg/ml) induces cytotoxicity in PANC-1 cells cultured in glucose-deficient medium but not serum- or amino acid-deficient medium or complete medium.2 It reduces tumor growth in a PANC-1 mouse xenograft model when administered at a dose of 100 μg/mouse per day. Pyrvinium (10 nM) also binds to and activates casein kinase 1α (CK1α).3 It inhibits Wnt signaling (EC50 = ~10 nM in a reporter assay) in a CK1α-dependent manner. Formulations containing pyrvinium were previously used in the treatment of pinworm infections.
1.Brody, G.L., and Elward, T.E.Comparative activity of 29 known anthelmintics under standardized drug-diet and gavage medication regimens against four helminth species in miceJ. Parasitol.57(5)1068-1077(1971) 2.Esumi, H., Lu, J., Kurashima, Y., et al.Antitumor activity of pyrvinium pamoate, 6-(dimethylamino)-2-[2-(2,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)ethenyl]-1-methyl-quinolinium pamoate salt, showing preferential cytotoxicity during glucose starvationCancer Sci.95(8)685-690(2004) 3.Van Acker, H.H., Capsomidis, A., Smits, E.L., et al.CD56 in the immune system: More than a marker for cytotoxicity?Front. Immunol.8892(2017)