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ER2 – The second life of drugs: opportunities and challenges of drug repurposing

Date:

13/03/2025 - 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
14/03/2025 - 9:00 am to 10:00 am

Room:

Hall A1 (13/03/2025) & Auditorium 15 (14/03/2025)

Facilitator:

Xandra García

Speakers:

Abstract:

Link to EAHP Statements
Section 1 – Introductory Statements and Governance: Statements – 1.1, 1.5
Section 2 – Selection, Procurement and Distribution: Statements – 2.2
Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy: Statements – 4.6, 4.7
Section 6 – Education and Research: Statement Statements – 6.5

Abstract
Drug repurposing, also known as drug repositioning or reprofiling, refers to the process of identifying new therapeutic uses for existing, ideally registered, drugs that were initially developed for a different indication and even a different target protein.
In this session, we will discuss the key principles underlying the huge potential of drug repurposing based on compound promiscuity, emphasizing the shift from traditional de novo drug discovery to the exploration of existing compounds for new therapeutic indications. Attendees will gain insights into the diverse methodologies employed in identifying repurposable candidates, alone or in combination, with our without a companion diagnostic, ranging from computational approaches, systems and network medicine, and high-throughput screenings.
Drug repurposing can lead to the accelerated approval of treatments, saving both time and resources, compared to the conventional drug development pipeline. The potential of this approach for drug approval is particularly interesting in areas such as rare diseases and unmet medical needs. However, the road to drug repurposing is not without challenges. The session will address issues such as regulatory considerations, intellectual property hurdles, the need for innovative clinical trial designs tailored to repurposed drugs, and reimbursement. Ethical considerations surrounding patient safety and consent will also be explored, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between speed and thorough evaluation enabled by precision diagnostics and new mechanism-based disease definitions.
Some ongoing initiatives at the European level from the research, regulatory and reimbursement perspective will be discussed to provide hospital pharmacists with a basic understanding of the field’s potential. By reimagining the applications of existing drugs, hospital pharmacists can play a pivotal role in expanding treatment options for unmet clinical needs, e.g. by supporting low-cost investigator-initiated trials.

Learning objectives
After the session, the participant should be able to:

  • To identify key principles underlying drug repurposing and the novel methodologies employed in identifying repurposable candidates.
  • To discuss challenges associated with drug repurposing, including technical, regulatory and organizational considerations.
  • To describe ongoing repurposing initiatives around Europe.

Educational need addressed
This seminar will provide hospital pharmacists with a comprehensive understanding of drug repurposing, from its fundamental principles and methodologies to the challenges, regulatory and ethical considerations associated with this approach.

Keywords
Clinical Trials, evidence-based medicine, inter-professional communication, outcomes, regulation, reimbursement, research.

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