Tag: Drug repurposing

Myelin damage impairs neural communication, and while the body possesses a natural capacity for self-repair, this process often fails in chronic demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers are actively investigating what drugs promote myelin repair by targeting and stimulating oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to mature and form new myelin sheaths.

Despite laboratory studies showing that amitriptyline can inhibit certain bacteria and viruses, it is not approved or recommended for treating infections in humans. Its primary clinical applications are for conditions like depression and chronic pain.

Originally developed in the 1950s to treat ulcers, minoxidil proved to be a potent vasodilator approved to treat severe high blood pressure in 1979 [1.3.3, 1.3.6]. So, what drug was minoxidil repurposed for? It was repurposed to treat hair loss after an unexpected side effect was observed [1.2.2].

As of September 2025, the investigational drug saracatinib has not received marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not commercially available in the USA. The drug, originally developed for cancer, is now primarily being studied for other conditions, with access limited to participants in clinical trials or expanded access programs.

While the prognosis for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has long been abysmal, with limited treatment options, a growing body of research suggests a surprising new avenue. Recent studies have investigated the potential of the common diabetes medication, metformin, and its ability to not only slow the progression of fibrosis but potentially reverse established disease.

In clinical trials during the 1970s, approximately 60–80% of hypertensive patients taking oral minoxidil developed hypertrichosis, or excessive hair growth. This surprising side effect provides the key to answering the question: **What was minoxidil originally made for?** Its journey from a blood pressure treatment to a widely known hair growth product is a classic example of drug repurposing.

The discovery of the active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil, was an unexpected turn of events during clinical trials for a new heart medication. This raises the question: was Viagra invented by mistake? Yes, it was, a story of pharmaceutical history that demonstrates the value of observing the unexpected.

Niclosamide, the active ingredient in niclosan tablets, is an oral anthelmintic drug that has been used for over 50 years to treat intestinal tapeworm infections in millions of people and animals worldwide. This medication works by targeting the parasite's energy production, and recent studies suggest potential broader applications beyond its traditional use.

First synthesized over a century ago as a textile dye, methylene blue was repurposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored as an affordable and accessible therapeutic option. Researchers investigated why is methylene blue used in COVID-19, finding it may inhibit the virus's ability to enter cells and mitigate the severe inflammatory responses associated with the disease.

During the initial stages of the pandemic, millions of COVID-19 patients received prescriptions for azithromycin, an antibiotic. The question, **Why did my doctor give me azithromycin for COVID?**, stems from this early period when scientific understanding was still evolving.