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Repurposing

Drug repurposing is the process of discovering new therapeutic uses for existing drugs or potential drug candidates.

What is drug repurposing?


Drug repurposing can encompass any one of the following activities: 

  • Repositioning drug candidates that are currently in clinical development to new disease indications
  • Targeting drugs that have been abandoned or failed to demonstrate efficacy for a particular indication during phase II or III trials to new disease indications 
  • Targeting marketed or off-patent drugs to new disease indications
  • Reformulation of drugs using novel delivery systems
  • Novel combination therapies

Benefits of drug repurposing: 

Drug repurposing can offer a significant advantage over traditional drug development. Often, the repurposed drug will have already passed preclinical and clinical safety assessments and so the risk of attrition and the overall cost of bringing the drug to market can be greatly reduced.

Accelerating Drug Development through Repurposing:

  • A means to get potential therapies into their patients quicker
  • Academic investigators can access proprietary compounds, data and resources (e.g. PK/PD, formulation etc.)
  • Academic investigators have access to unique patient populations
  • In depth disease knowledge can inform new uses or treatment populations for existing biopharmaceuticals
  • Novel ideas & collaborations aligned with both academic and pharmaceutical interests
  • Known safety profiles can reduce risk and attrition

Examples of Drug Repurposing

  • Buprenorphine, originally prescribed for the control of moderate pain and subsequently developed (in a high-dosage formulation) for the interruption and maintenance of heroin and other opioid addictions.
  • Ropinerole, originally developed as an anti-Parkinsonian medicine, it has found application in the treatment of both ‘Restless Legs Syndrome’ and SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction.
  • Gabapentin and its chemical cousin pregabalin, originally developed as anti-epileptics, they have found more recent use in the treatment of anxiety disorders and neuropathic pain.
  • Sildenafil is an example of drug rescue. It was initially studied for use in the treatment of high blood pressure and angina. Clinical trials suggested that the drug had insufficient efficacy in angina, but that it could induce penile erections. Therefore it was subsequently developed as a medicine for the treatment for erectile dysfunction, rather than for angina.
  • Other examples: bupropione for smoking cessation (originally depression), minoxidil for hair loss (originally hypertension) and thalidomide for leprosy (originally antiemetic)

 

Join the Repurposing Therapeutic Innovation Network (TIN) and become part of an inspiring community driving therapeutic innovation. By joining us, you will:

  • Connect with UCL’s vibrant repurposing community and gain access to experts and collaborators.
  • Be part of a growing network, engage with new members, and expand your professional opportunities.
  • Enhance your knowledge through educational resources tailored for the repurposing field.
  • Collaborate to address key challenges and drive impactful solutions together.
  • Explore new possibilities and innovative approaches for repurposing projects.
  • Access funding opportunities and receive expert guidance on translating ideas into impactful therapies.

Join the Repurposing TIN Connect with the Chair and Committee Members of the Repurposing TIN