Hospitals and universities repurposing drugs at 90% lower cost
A King's College London study reveals a 'hidden' drug innovation system where hospitals and universities repurpose generic drugs, achieving up to 90% lower costs than pharmaceutical companies. This parallel, non-patent-driven approach offers a compelling model for affordable healthcare solutions, sparking Hacker News's interest in systemic efficiency and alternative innovation pathways.
The Lowdown
A groundbreaking study from King's College London uncovers a largely unnoticed, yet highly effective, drug innovation system operating within hospitals and universities. This system focuses on repurposing existing generic drugs for new treatments, fundamentally challenging the traditional pharmaceutical R&D model.
- Researchers found that these institutions conduct late-stage clinical trials at less than 10% of the cost reported by pharmaceutical companies.
- The efficiency stems from lower barriers in expertise, risk, and capital when working with already approved and well-studied drugs.
- Motivations for this research are primarily clinical (patient care) and academic (career progression through publications), diverging from the profit incentives of the patent system.
- Examples include repurposing a cancer drug for blindness, a breast cancer drug for prevention, and an anti-inflammatory for Covid.
- Pharmaceutical companies tend to lose interest in repurposing drugs once they become generic, creating the space for this alternative system to flourish.
This research highlights a powerful, cost-effective method for developing new therapies that could significantly improve access to affordable treatments, offering a stark contrast to the often prohibitive costs associated with new drug development by industry.
The Gossip
Finding Studies
Commenters inquired about how individuals can learn about and participate in these drug repurposing studies. The discussion highlighted resources like `clinicaltrials.gov` and the practice of large medical systems and universities maintaining mailing lists or portals for clinical trial recruitment, suggesting that patient involvement is similar to other clinical trials.
Regulatory Roadblocks
A significant point of discussion revolved around the regulatory pathways (or lack thereof) for extending drug indications. Some users claimed there's no official pathway without manufacturer consent, while others, particularly for the UK, noted that 'off-label' prescribing is allowed, although manufacturers might not bear legal responsibility. This underscores the systemic challenges in formalizing and scaling these repurposing efforts.