Halofantrine is a blood schizonticidal antimalarial agent with no apparent action on the sporozoite, gametocyte or hepatic stages of the infection. It is used only to treat but not to prevent malaria. Has been marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as HALFAN (halofantrine hydrochloride) in 250 mg tablets indicated for the treatment of adults who can tolerate oral medication and who have mild to moderate malaria (equal to or less than 100,000 parasites/mm3) caused by Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax. Among side effects is cardiac arrhythmia. It belongs to the phenanthrene class of compounds that includes quinine and lumefantrine. It was reported that halofantrine binds to hematin in vitro (crystal structure of the complex) and to to plasmpesin, a haemoglobin degrading enzyme unique to the malarial parasites.

Niclosamide is an antihelminth used against tapeworm infections. It may act by the uncoupling of the electron transport chain to ATP synthase. The disturbance of this crucial metabolic pathway prevents creation of adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), an essential molecule that supplies energy for metabolism. Niclosamide works by killing tapeworms on contact. Adult worms (but not ova) are rapidly killed, presumably due to uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation or stimulation of ATPase activity. The killed worms are then passed in the stool or sometimes destroyed in the intestine. Niclosamide may work as a molluscicide by binding to and damaging DNA. Niclosamide is used for the treatment of tapeworm and intestinal fluke infections: Taenia saginata (Beef Tapeworm), Taenia solium (Pork Tapeworm), Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish Tapeworm), Fasciolopsis buski (large intestinal fluke). Niclosamide is also used as a molluscicide in the control of schistosomiasis. Niclosamide was marketed under the trade name Niclocide, now discontinued.

Oxamniquine is an anthelmintic with schistosomicidal activity against Schistosoma mansoni, but not against other Schistosoma spp. Oxamniquine is a potent single-dose agent for treatment of S. mansoni infection in man, and it causes worms to shift from the mesenteric veins to the liver, where the male worms are retained; the female worms return to the mesentery, but can no longer release eggs. Oxamniquine is a semisynthetic tetrahydroquinoline and possibly acts by DNA binding, resulting in contraction and paralysis of the worms and eventual detachment from terminal venules in the mesentry, and death. Its biochemical mechanisms are hypothesized to be related to an anticholinergic effect, which increases the parasite’s motility, as well as to synthesis inhibition of nucleic acids. Oxamniquine acts mainly on male worms, but also induces small changes on a small proportion of females. Like praziquantel, it promotes more severe damage of the dorsal tegument than of the ventral surface. The drug causes the male worms to shift from the mesenteric circulation to the liver, where the cellular host response causes its final elimination. The changes caused in the females are reversible and are due primarily to the discontinued male stimulation rather than the direct effect of oxamniquine

BEPHENIUM HYDROXYNAPHTHOATE is an anthelmintic agent used in the treatment of hookworm and roundworm infections (Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Necatore americanus). It targets the AChRs of nematodes producing spastic paralysis of the worms.

Thiabendazole (TBZ, trade names Mintezol, Tresaderm, and Arbotect) was first introduced in 1962. This drug is a fungicide and parasiticide and is indicated for the treatment of: strongyloidiasis (threadworm), cutaneous larva migrans (creeping eruption), visceral larva migrans, trichinosis: relief of symptoms and fever and a reduction of eosinophilia have followed the use of this drug during the invasion stage of the disease. But usage of this drug was discontinued. The precise mode of action of thiabendazole on the parasite is unknown, but it may inhibit the helminthspecific enzyme fumarate reductase. It was shown, also that thiabendazole reversibly disassembles newly established blood vessels, marking it as vascular disrupting agent (VDA) and thus as a potential complementary therapeutic for use in combination with current anti-angiogenic therapies. Was shown, that vascular disruption by TBZ results from reduced tubulin levels and hyper-active Rho signaling. In addition, was confirmed, that thiabendazole slowed tumor growth and decreased vascular density in preclinical fibrosarcoma xenografts and thus, it could lead directly to the identification of a potential new therapeutic application for an inexpensive drug that is already approved for clinical use in humans.

Lucanthone is a thioxanthenone DNA intercalator. It inhibits topoisomerases and the dual function base excision repair enzyme apurinic endonuclease 1. Lucanthone has been devised for the treatment of schistosomiasis. It is also an antitumor agent. Lucanthone was being developed by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of malignant brain tumours.

Dithiazanine, 3-ethyl-2-[5-(3-ethyl-2-benzothiazolinylidene)-l, 3- pentadienyl] benzothiazolium iodide, is an old effective broad-spectrum human anthelmintic. In proper dosage, this polyvermicide is therapeutic for trichuriasis, strongyloidiasis, ascariasis, and enterobiasis. The drug also has significant anthelmintic activity against human hookworm, Necator americanus. It fulfills a need for an effective therapeutic for trichuriasis and strongyloidiasis. Dithiazanine is useful for the treatment of patients with either single or multiple intestinal helminth infections. It is effective for mass therapy for trichuriasis. Nowdays Dithiazanine is used only as a veterinary anthelmintic for dogs. It has being proved to be a highly toxic chemical, with a lethal dose for humans of about 4–16 mg/kg by oral ingestion.

Pyrvinium (Viprynium) is an anthelmintic effective for pinworms. Pyrvinium is used in the treatment of enterobiasis caused by Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm). Pyrvinium has being shown to be a potent inhibitor of Wnt signaling (EC(50) of ∼10 nM). Pyrvinium binds all casein kinase 1 (CK1) family members in vitro at low nanomolar concentrations and pyrvinium selectively potentiates casein kinase 1α (CK1α) kinase activity. Pyrvinium pamoate (PP) is a potent noncompetitive inhibitor of the androgen receptor (AR). A noncompetitive AR inhibitor pyrvinium has significant potential to treat CRPC, including cancers driven by ligand-independent AR signaling.