The Dr. Carlos Fernández Lozano from Universidade da Coruña analyzes the impact of drug repurposing in an interview with Salud35
Drug repurposing has become a key strategy in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in a context where innovation and efficiency are priorities. In a recent interview with Salud35, Dr. Carlos Fernández Lozano, head of the machine learning laboratory in life sciences at Universidade da Coruña, beneficiary of the RePo-SUDOE project, delved into the benefits of this strategy, which not only accelerates innovation but also reduces the financial risks associated with the development of new drugs.
Drug repurposing allows pharmaceutical companies to identify new therapeutic uses for existing medications. “This strategy has great potential to accelerate innovation within the pharmaceutical industry,” said Fernández Lozano. By leveraging compounds with established safety profiles, the process becomes considerably faster and more cost-effective compared to developing new drugs from scratch. This not only reduces costs but also extends the life cycle of the medications.
Additionally, Fernández Lozano highlighted that drug repurposing opens the door to exploring unmet therapeutic areas and responding quickly to emerging medical needs, such as rare diseases. This approach also fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, a key factor in driving new therapeutic applications.
Advantages over Developing New Drugs
From an economic standpoint, drug repurposing is more cost-effective for pharmaceutical companies than investing in the creation of new medications. “The development of a completely new drug is long, expensive, and risky,” he explained, while drug repurposing allows companies to optimize resources and focus on demonstrating the effectiveness of the drug for new indications. This approach not only reduces risk but also shortens return on investment times.
Regulatory and Intellectual Property Challenges
However, Carlos acknowledged that the current regulatory and intellectual property landscape can present both an opportunity and a challenge. While some regulatory agencies offer expedited pathways for the approval of new indications, the complexity of patent protection and potential conflicts with original patents may discourage some companies from exploring the full potential of drug repurposing.
A Model that Reduces Financial Risks
Regarding financial benefits, drug repurposing is presented as an effective strategy for mitigating risks. By working with already approved medications, companies face less uncertainty in the later stages of development, allowing them to focus on new therapeutic applications with lower costs and shorter timelines.
Dr. Carlos Fernández Lozano concluded that, with the support of projects like RePo-SUDOE, drug repurposing is emerging as a key solution for pharmaceutical companies, enabling not only greater resource efficiency but also a higher capacity to address unmet medical needs.
To read more about Dr. Fernández Lozano’s analysis, you can read the full interview on Salud35: https://www.consalud.es/salud35/nacional/regulacion-propiedad-intelectual-desafios-en-reposicionamiento-medicamentos_151189_102.html