An Overview of Drug Repurposing

Review Article

Abstract

Drug repurposing, also known as drug repositioning or reprofiling, entails identifying new therapeutic indications for existing drugs that have already gained regulatory approval for treating other diseases or conditions. Rather than developing entirely new chemical entities, researchers explore the potential uses of approved drugs against different ailments through drug repurposing. This approach provides several advantages over traditional drug development such as lower discovery and development costs, shorter timelines to approval, and an established safety profile of the repurposed drug. A key benefit of drug repurposing stems from the extensive clinical and regulatory knowledge accumulated on the active pharmaceutical ingredient's safety, pharmacokinetics, dosing, quality characteristics, and manufacturing process during its original development. Leveraging this existing knowledge can substantially reduce the overall risks and costs associated with bringing a new drug to market. Drug repurposing also enables the rapid clinical translation of basic biological research findings. It represents a valuable strategy for addressing therapeutic gaps, particularly for rare and neglected diseases with limited research attention from the pharmaceutical industry. While drug repurposing holds promise in expediting drug development, it also faces unique scientific and technical challenges. These include identifying suitable new indications, understanding unknown mechanisms of action against new targets or pathways, establishing efficacy through clinical trials, and addressing intellectual property issues. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the drug repurposing approach, analyze its key benefits and limitations, and discuss ongoing efforts to systematically advance this paradigm shift in drug discovery