Drug Designing: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Drug Repositioning Strategies: A Rational Approach to Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery

Liwen Zhang*

Drug repositioning, also known as drug repurposing, represents a strategic and cost-effective approach to therapeutic discovery by identifying new uses for existing drugs. Unlike de novo drug development, which typically requires more than a decade and billions of dollars in investment, drug repositioning leverages compounds with established safety profiles, expediting their path to clinical application. This paradigm has gained significant traction in recent years due to its potential to rapidly deliver treatments for both common and rare diseases, especially in scenarios where urgent therapeutic needs arise, such as global pandemics or emerging diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic notably highlighted the importance of this approach, with drugs like remdesivir and dexamethasone being evaluated and deployed swiftly based on existing clinical data.

Published Date: 2025-03-04; Received Date: 2025-02-03