Sakis Nahida, Slone Michelle, Michaan Nadav, Ben-Eliyahu Shamgar
Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel.
Int J Equity Health. 2025 Aug 21;24(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s12939-025-02598-w.
This perspective critically evaluates the global potential of drug repurposing strategies in oncology to advance health equity and sustainable innovation. Drug repurposing, especially with off-patent medications, offers significant advantages, including reduced costs, shortened timelines for clinical implementation, and enhanced approval success rates compared to new drug development. Herein, we advocate for leveraging of repurposing as a scientifically sound and ethically responsible strategy, while acknowledging the implementation barriers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to global systemic inequities. Fostering equitable investment in research and infrastructure worldwide is essential to realizing the full potential of this approach. We also identify specific barriers to drug repurposing, including limited funding for clinical trials, inadequate support for investigator-led trials, and the lack of commercial incentives due to non-patented drug utilization. To overcome these barriers, we propose enhanced funding mechanisms, robust advocacy, targeted education initiatives, and policy prioritization for repurposing studies. Case examples illustrate the clinical potential of drug repurposing in reducing metastatic progression and improving survival outcomes. Overall, this perspective underscores drug repurposing as a viable and impactful strategy to advance both innovation and the human right to health in cancer care for all populations. By fostering a collaborative interdisciplinary effort, the benefits of this approach can pave a way for a more equitable and sustainable future in cancer care.
这一观点批判性地评估了肿瘤学中药物重新利用策略在促进健康公平和可持续创新方面的全球潜力。药物重新利用，尤其是对于已过专利保护期的药物，具有显著优势，包括成本降低、临床应用时间缩短，以及与新药研发相比更高的获批成功率。在此，我们倡导将重新利用作为一种科学合理且符合道德责任的策略，同时认识到由于全球系统性不平等，低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs）在实施过程中存在障碍。在全球范围内促进对研究和基础设施的公平投资对于充分发挥这一方法的潜力至关重要。我们还确定了药物重新利用的具体障碍，包括临床试验资金有限、对研究者主导试验的支持不足，以及由于使用非专利药物而缺乏商业激励。为克服这些障碍，我们提议加强资金机制、有力宣传、有针对性的教育举措，以及对重新利用研究的政策优先安排。案例说明了药物重新利用在减少转移进展和改善生存结果方面的临床潜力。总体而言，这一观点强调药物重新利用是一种可行且有影响力的策略，可在癌症护理中推动创新并促进所有人的健康权。通过促进跨学科的协作努力，这种方法的益处可为癌症护理领域更公平、可持续的未来铺平道路。
