Panelists:

Adekemi Taylor, PhD, VP, Quantitive Science Services at Certara
Joab Williamson, Director of Clinical Operations, Faron Pharmaceuticals

Summary:

LI Pharma Focus America – Issue 04 (August 31, 2024) features a panel discussion on Drug Repurposing: Unlocking New Therapeutic Possibilities with:

1. Dr. Adekemi Taylor, Vice President of Quantitative Science Services at Certara.
2. Joab Williamson, Director of Clinical Operations at Faron Pharmaceuticals.

Key Highlights

1. Challenges:
   • Convincing stakeholders and navigating legal/regulatory landscapes.
     Identifying new uses, ensuring efficacy and safety, and securing funding.
2. Success Story:
   • Ketamine repurposed for treatment-resistant depression, significantly impacting treatment options.
3. Regulatory Navigation:
   • Early dialogue with regulators and meticulous planning are crucial.
4. Future Drivers:
   • Advances in high-throughput screening, computing, and -omics data.
   • Example: Eculizumab repurposed for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS).
5. Collaboration:
   • Interdisciplinary teamwork across clinical, regulatory, business, and legal fields is essential.
6. Technology Impact:
   • AI accelerates literature review, identifies new drug targets, and supports dose selection.

Patient Involvement

• Feedback: Guides treatment needs and identifies repurposing candidates.
• Participation: Provides critical data and real-world evidence through clinical trials.
• Communication: Ensures patient engagement and addresses concerns about drug history.

Drug repurposing holds great potential, driven by collaboration, technology, and patient involvement, to unlock new therapeutic possibilities.