Table 2 Advantages of drug development using repurposed agents

From: Drug repurposing for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders

Initiation of development at Phase 2 or Phase 3 without the requirement to repeat Phase 1 or nonclinical studies

Knowledge of dosing information collected in the development program of the agent for the initial indication

Safety information derived from use of the agent to treat the initial indication

Tolerability information derived from use of the agent to treat the initial indication

Lower cost of the test agent, especially if its patent has expired and it has generic status

  1. The dosing, pharmacokinetics, and safety and tolerability of the agent to be repurposed are known. There are advantages to building on this information foundation to launch development campaigns for repurposed agents.
  2. Repurposed agents have been through preclinical development and clinical trials for the original indication.
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