Hospitals and universities repurposing drugs at lower cost
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Universities and hospitals repurpose generic drugs at up to 90% lower cost.
King’s College London research published in *Cambridge Law Journal* reveals a “hidden” drug-repurposing system outside pharma. Hospitals and universities conduct late-stage trials using generic drugs, at less than 10% of industry costs. Lower barriers: expertise is abundant, risk is minimal (no financial dependency on sales), and investigators are motivated by patient recovery and career advancement. Real-world examples include a cancer drug repurposed for blindness, breast cancer drug for prevention, and anti-inflammatory for COVID-19. Once patents expire, industry interest wanes, but this alternative system can deliver affordable treatments.
What commenters are saying
Commenters note that off-label prescribing is already common and widely covered by US insurance, contrary to some misconceptions. Several share personal experiences with off-label drugs (e.g., LDN and gabapentin). A key point: after patent expiry, no regulatory obstacle prevents doctors from prescribing off-label, but commercial pathways for official approval are costly and offer little incentive. Some discuss finding trials via clinicaltrials.gov or specialist networks. One user recommends Cures Within Reach, a nonprofit funding repurposing studies for rare diseases like Huntington’s.