Global Inequities in Preeclampsia Research: A Scoping Review of Drug Repurposing Clinical Trials (2000–2025)

Preeclampsia (PE) remains a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 14% of maternal deaths. Despite its global impact, PE is often labeled a "therapeutic orphan" due to the lack of innovative pharmacological treatments that address its underlying systemic endothelial dysfunction. Drug repurposing — leveraging existing, safe, and affordable medications for new indications — offers an accelerated and cost-effective pathway to address this clinical gap.The purpose of this research is to conduct a scoping review and landscape analysis to map the global distribution of clinical trials focused on drug repurposing for preeclampsia. By evaluating trial registries from ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO ICTRP (2000-2025), this study aims to identify the specific pharmacological agents being studied and determine if the intensity of research correlates with the actual clinical burden (Maternal Mortality Ratio - MMR) or national wealth (GDP)