Summary
This document is a guide that outlines the methodologies and considerations involved in drug repurposing, which is the process of repositioning existing drugs for new medical uses. It explains the advantages of drug repurposing over traditional drug discovery, such as reduced development time and costs. The guide details the initial steps in identifying suitable repurposing projects, emphasizing the importance of finding commercially interesting targets with unmet medical needs and pharmacological clues. It discusses the role of computational chemistry tools, particularly the software Forge, in rapidly screening existing compounds against new targets. The document also describes the importance of timely triaging processes to expedite the identification of candidate compounds. A case study is presented, showcasing the identification of a novel anti-inflammatory activity for an existing drug, highlighting the process from target identification to candidate evaluation. The guide concludes with insights into the intellectual property considerations associated with drug repurposing.
