Old drugs – new uses

New uses for old drugs: Novel therapeutic options

Since decades, the rational discovery of new medicines has depended on the modification of molecular structures. Introducing a new drug to the market now costs an average of US$ 897 million which includes preclinical and clinical costs before the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval and costs associated with studies conducted after a product has gained such approval. Moreover, the pro...

Old drugs, new uses: solving a Hatch-Waxman patent predicament.

In early 2003, two panels of the Federal Circuit clashed in a pair of cases (Warner-Lambert v. Apotex and Allergan v. Alcon) dealing with the question of whether an action for inducement of infringement could be leveled against a generic drug manufacturer seeking FDA approval for an unpatented drug with both patented and unpatented uses. This paper takes up this debate, analyzing the interpreti...

Drugs old and new.

Paclitaxel: new uses for an old drug

Paclitaxel (Taxol), one of the most important anticancer drugs, has been used for therapy of different types of cancers. Mechanistically, paclitaxel arrests cell cycle and induces cell death by stabilizing microtubules and interfering with microtubule disassembly in cell division. Recently, it has been found that low-dose paclitaxel seems promising in treating non-cancer diseases, such as skin ...

Old drugs - old people - new insights.

Dr. Dan Sitar was the recipient of the 2004 CSCP Senior Investigator Award at the First Canadian Therapeutics Congress held in June 2004. He presented a lecture highlighting some of the studies he participated in that have contributed to an increased understanding of the role of aging on drug disposition and effect.