Repurposed Drugs
What are Repurposed Drugs?
These are existing drugs, often FDA-approved for non-cancer conditions like infections, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Researchers and clinicians discovered they may have anti-cancer properties or synergistic effects when combined with standard treatments.
- Repurposing is faster and cheaper than developing new cancer drugs from scratch, because:
- Safety and dosing are already known.
- They’ve already passed clinical trials for other uses.
Why Repurpose Drugs for Cancer?
Cancer is a complex disease that affects many pathways—some drugs designed for other diseases can interrupt these pathways.
Some non-cancer drugs can:
- Inhibit cancer cell growth or angiogenesis
- Induce apoptosis (cell death)
- Enhance immune response
- Improve drug delivery
- Reduce resistance to chemotherapy
Important Caveats
- Even though these drugs are approved, using them for cancer is considered off-label.
- Dosing and interactions may differ in cancer patients.
- Not all repurposed drugs work for all cancers—personalized or precision approaches are often needed.
- Should be used under medical supervision, ideally with an integrative or research-savvy oncologist.
Examples of Repurposed Drugs in Oncology
- Vitamin D3
- Melatonin
- Curcumin
- Ivermectin
- Mebendazole
- Berberine
- Mistletoe