Systematic evaluation of drug-disease relationships to identify leads for novel drug uses

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Nov;86(5):507-10. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2009.103. Epub 2009 Jul 1.

Abstract

Drug repositioning refers to the discovery of alternative uses for drugs--uses that are different from that for which the drugs were originally intended. One challenge in this effort lies in choosing the indication for which a drug of interest could be prospectively tested. We systematically evaluated a drug treatment-based view of diseases in order to address this challenge. Suggestions for novel drug uses were generated using a "guilt by association" approach. When compared with a control group of drug uses, the suggested novel drug uses generated by this approach were significantly enriched with respect to previous and ongoing clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Drug Industry / methods*
  • Humans
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations