Drug Repurposing

Drug repurposing, often called drug repositioning, is a strategic approach that reduces the time, cost, and risk associated with traditional drug development by discovering new therapeutic uses for previously approved or withdrawn drugs. This chapter looks at the history, principles, and possible uses of medication repurposing. Notable accomplishments such as the repurposing of sildenafil and thalidomide demonstrate the efficacy of this approach. Only through phenotypic screening, real-world data analysis, and sophisticated computational techniques can novel drug–disease correlations be discovered. Drugs like dexamethasone and remdesivir were promptly repurposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the need and efficacy of pharmaceutical repurposing. Repurposed medications in oncology, such as aspirin and metformin, demonstrate the wider range of use in different medical specialties. Drug repurposing tactics seem to benefit from the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and collaborative efforts, despite obstacles such as regulatory hurdles, potential negative effects, and intellectual property issues. Another important factor in quickening the evaluation process is the use of creative clinical trial designs, such as adaptive trials. All things considered, medication repurposing provides a practical and effective means of meeting unmet medical requirements, enhancing patient outcomes, and making the most use of healthcare resources.