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INNOSC Theranostics and
Pharmacological Sciences Drug repositioning for NTDs treatment

The FDA offers programs such as Fast Track (to expedite 4.3. Research and academic institutions
the review of drugs for serious conditions with unmet Research and academic institutions play a crucial
medical needs), Priority Review (which reduces the FDA role in driving innovation in drug repositioning.
review period from ten to six months), and Accelerated Interdisciplinary collaboration (bringing together experts
Approval (allowing earlier approval based on surrogate from multidisciplinary fields such as biology, chemistry,
endpoints). Similarly, the EMA has introduced the and computer science) and international partnerships
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PRIME (Priority Medicines) scheme, offering early and are essential for advancing the scientific understanding
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enhanced support to medicines that target unmet medical of NTDs and identifying potential drug candidates.
needs, including those for NTDs. The PRIME program Institutions should focus on innovative research
provides early and continuous support to developers of methodologies such as high-throughput screening, which
promising drugs, ensuring faster access for patients. These allows rapid testing of thousands of compounds against
streamlined approval pathways are particularly vital for disease targets, artificial intelligence, and computational
repurposing drugs, as they accelerate the development and modeling, which can predict drug-target interactions and
availability of critical treatments, ensuring faster access to accelerate the identification of promising candidates. 34
affordable therapies for NTDs. Therefore, implementing
such regulatory mechanisms globally is essential to In addition, these institutions play a key role in building
accelerate and address the urgent medical needs posed by scientific capacity in low-income regions by providing
NTDs through drug repositioning. training for local researchers and fostering South–
South collaborations (partnerships between developing
4.2. The role of the pharmaceutical industry countries). For example, the Global Network for NTDs
The pharmaceutical industry has a pivotal role in (a network formed by researchers from Argentina, Brazil,
embracing social responsibility by investing in research India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay) has
and forming public–private partnerships to unlock the advanced NTD research through shared resources and
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potential of drug repositioning for NTDs. By collaborating expertise. This not only strengthens the local infrastructure
with academic institutions and global health organizations, for NTD research but also enriches the global scientific
pharmaceutical companies can significantly contribute community by incorporating diverse perspectives and
to developing cost-effective therapies for NTDs, thereby expertise. Moreover, research and academic institutions
addressing both public health needs and market gaps. are pivotal in conducting pre-clinical and clinical trials
These partnerships are particularly crucial in low- and necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of repositioned
middle-income countries, where the burden of NTDs drugs. By fostering strong partnerships with industry and
is highest, and access to affordable treatments is most governmental bodies, they can accelerate the translation of
urgently needed. In these regions, pharmaceutical laboratory discoveries into real-world treatments, bridging
companies can play a transformative role by ensuring that the gap between research and application and ensuring
medical innovations are accessible and affordable. Through that scientific discoveries become accessible therapies.
these efforts, the pharmaceutical sector can bridge the gap By leading innovation and capacity building, research
between innovation and access, ensuring that repositioned and academic institutions ensure that drug repositioning
drugs reach the populations most in need. Furthermore, efforts remain at the forefront of scientific advancement.
pharmaceutical companies can leverage their expertise 4.4. International health organizations
in drug development, manufacturing, and distribution to
ensure that repositioned drugs are produced efficiently, International health organizations, such as the WHO, play a
meet quality standards, and are delivered promptly to pivotal role in coordinating global efforts to address NTDs
regions in need. By participating in shared intellectual through drug repositioning. By advocating for equitable
property agreements and open-access research initiatives, resource distribution and raising the profile of NTDs
the industry can further reduce costs, foster innovation, through initiatives such as the “Uniting to Combat NTDs”
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and accelerate drug development timelines. In addition, campaign, these organizations can help mobilize the
pharmaceutical companies play a pivotal role in advocating necessary resources and support for repositioning efforts.
for regulatory reforms that streamline the approval process Moreover, they play a critical role in setting global health
for repositioned drugs, thereby making treatments available priorities, establishing guidelines, and fostering cross-
more rapidly to those in need. By embracing these roles, border collaborations to share knowledge and resources.
the pharmaceutical industry can significantly contribute Through initiatives such as the WHO’s Roadmap
to combating NTDs, ultimately improving global health for NTDs (which outlines strategies for the control,
outcomes and fulfilling their social responsibility. elimination, and eradication of 20 prioritized NTDs) these

Volume 7 Issue 4 (2024) 5 doi: 10.36922/itps.3721