Many now-famous pharmaceuticals were initially intended for other uses. For example, Viagra was first synthesized by scientists in the 1980s to treat hypertension and angina (i.e., severe chest pain), but clinical trials revealed an unexpected side effect. The company quickly redirected their marketing strategy, and to date, have sold billions of dollars of product to men struggling with erectile dysfunction.
Botox’s initial medical use was to correct crossed eyes, but a plastic surgeon discovered that injecting it could smooth wrinkles. In 2000, it was reported that patients who had received cosmetic injections experienced relief from chronic headaches and migraines. Today, Botox is used for all these applications.
Drug repurposing is an effective strategy for accelerating traditional drug development — it can also significantly reduce the risk of unknown, negative side effects associated with taking entirely new drugs. However, discovering alternative uses for existing pharmaceuticals is difficult. Most advances happen by chance, or through expensive, randomized experiments...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
