Drug Repurposing and its Various Approaches

Abstract

Drug repurposing has the possibility of providing drugs with established safety profiles to different groups of patients. A large number of examples exist showing new uses found for already existing molecules, commonly discovered by chance or targeted research efforts related to a drug's specific mechanism of action. The development of systematic methods for drug repurposing has been sparked by the necessity for new approaches in drug research, as well as the advancement of big data repositories and their corresponding analytical techniques. Numerous novel computational techniques have emerged to facilitate systematic repurposing screens, both in experimental settings and through computer simulations. Effective drug repurposing pipelines need strong understanding, skills, and a solid experimental framework for integrating molecular data and clinical development expertise. This review outlines various systematic repurposing approaches and explores key players in the field. Strategic collaborations are essential for enhancing the success of repurposing existing molecules for new indications. The review also examines the pros, cons, and challenges of repurposing as a drug development strategy adopted by pharmaceutical firms.