title: APT drug R&D: the right active ingredient in the right presentation for the right therapeutic use.
abstract: Drug repurposing, in which an established active pharmaceutical ingredient is applied in a new way - for example, for a new indication, and often combined with an alternative method of presentation, such as a novel delivery route - is an evolving strategy for pharmaceutical R&D. This article discusses examples of the success of this strategy, and presents an analysis of sales of US pharmaceutical products that suggests that this low-risk approach to new product development retains substantial commercial value.
authors.affiliation: David Cavalla is at Numedicus Limited, Cambridge, CB1 2DX, UK. David.cavalla@numedicus.co.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavalla
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D003132:Commerce; D015195:Drug Design; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D012107:Research Design; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations