Title:Drug Repositioning: A Unique Approach to Refurbish Drug Discovery
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Mayura A. Kale*, Prashant B. Shamkuwar, Vishnukant K. Mourya, Aishwarya B. Deshpande and Priyanka A. Shelke
Affiliation:
- Government College of Pharmacy, Osmanpura, Aurangabad-431 005, Maharashtra, India
Keywords:
Drug repositioning, computational tools, databases, drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, drug targets.
Abstract: For a decade, it has been observed that there is a remarkable decrease in the quantum of
novel clinically approved drugs, in spite of modernization in the research and development process.
We have highlighted repositioning of drugs as a methodology that has found new therapeutic implications
for clinically approved drugs but with different indications. This can be considered as an upbringing
strategy to deliver timely and cost-effective solutions, which still need exploration for getting
over the shortage of novel drugs reaching the market. This review focuses on an activity-based drug
repositioning approach, which is used to explore new uses of known drugs that are already approved
for specific indications and are now being used for other indications on the basis that a single drug interacts
with multiple targets. It also includes current research trends related to drug repositioning,
which depends on strong knowledge of medicinal chemistry and involves elucidation of mechanisms
of action and validation of novel targets. The review highlights the importance of computational tools
and databases of various forms for drug repositioning purposes, which have enhanced the ability to
pose reasonable and testable hypotheses. The critical nature of this aspect is obvious in cases where
data gathered from in vitro, or animal models do not confirm in subsequent clinical trials. Hence, considering
the positive outcomes of drug repositioning, it can be surmised that this approach can serve as
a promising one that can develop into a robust drug discovery strategy.
