The problem with repurposing: Is there really an alternative to Big Pharma for developing new drugs for multiple sclerosis?

Gavin Giovannoni; David Baker; Klaus Schmierer

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2014.11.005

The problem with repurposing: Is there really an alternative to Big Pharma for developing new drugs for multiple sclerosis?

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2015 Jan;4(1):3-5. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2014.11.005. Epub 2014 Nov 21.

Authors

Gavin Giovannoni¹, David Baker², Klaus Schmierer²

Affiliations

¹ Queen Mary University of London, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Queen Mary University of London, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom.

PMID: 25787047
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2014.11.005

Abstract

If it is not feasible to develop licensed drugs to the stage that they can actually be prescribed for a new indication, can we justify, either ethically or economically, the undertaking of proof-of-concept studies using off-patent medications? Without a financial incentive it is very difficult to repurpose off patent drugs for a new indication. Therefore, we need a political solution to allow the repurposing of off-patent drugs by other stakeholders or Big Pharma.

Keywords: Caldribine; Drug development; Multiple sclerosis; Pharmaceutical industry; Simvastatin.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Drug Industry* / economics
Drug Industry* / methods
Drug Industry* / trends
Drug Repositioning*
Humans
Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*