Drug repurposing for neglected and zoonotic diseases

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Drug Discovery
• Artificial Intelligence

Background:

• Globalization and climate change increase the risk of neglected and zoonotic diseases.
• Research and development (R&D) for these diseases is often marginalized.
• Existing R&D processes are costly and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose drug repurposing as a viable strategy for neglected and zoonotic diseases.
• To highlight the role of enabling technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).
• To present drug repurposing as a cost-effective alternative to de novo R&D.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on drug repurposing and enabling technologies.
• Analysis of cost-effectiveness compared to traditional R&D.
• Case studies of successful drug repurposing for relevant diseases (if applicable, though not explicitly stated in the abstract).

Main Results:

• Drug repurposing can significantly reduce R&D timelines and costs.
• AI and other enabling technologies enhance the efficiency of drug repurposing.
• This approach can accelerate the availability of treatments for neglected and zoonotic diseases.

Conclusions:

• Drug repurposing, augmented by AI, is a promising strategy to combat neglected and zoonotic diseases.
• This approach addresses the R&D gap and offers economic advantages.
• Investment in drug repurposing technologies is crucial for global health security.