Thiabendazole is an anthelminthic drugs used in the treatment of hookworm and other parasites, typically administered with oral tablets. Current formulations are prepared by the active compound, combined with excipients including sodium saccharin as sweetener. We sought to improve these formulations by preparing a salt between the active component and five compounds including saccharin, tartaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and oxalic acid; by doing so, we achieved dramatically more soluble formulation of thiabendazole (&gt;20-fold increase). The salt was readily prepared with high-impact ball-milling, but also yielded single crystals in solution crystallizations for saccharin, oxalic acid and maleic acid samples. The crystal structure analyses confirmed the proton transfer and formation of salts. The crystal structures also provided detailed insights in the packing characteristics of the drug. These results can lead to anthelminthic drugs with improved solubility and dissolution rate. Furthermore, our findings can inform new strategies for oral tablet formulations for the treatment of helminthic infections, particularly in developing nations where parasites infections are widespread.

Sweet and sour anthelminthic formulations: Thiabendazole

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