[Drug repurposing requires a strategic approach]

Drug repurposing is often presented as a cost-effective strategy to accelerate the development of new therapies. The underlying rationale is that the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and mechanism of action of these drugs are already known, as preclinical research phases have been completed and clinical experience has already been gained. Although repurposing therefore appears to be an attractive approach for many diseases, initiatives often encounter various practical challenges. To address these challenges, a clear strategy should be developed in advance, taking into account (1) the thoughtful selection of a candidate drug, (2) efficient use of (existing) data, and (3) successful implementation of the drug in clinical practice, with early involvement of relevant stakeholders.