In the Drug Rediscovery Round, the focus is on research into the effectiveness, potentially including dose optimization, of promising applications of existing, non-patented medicines for an indication for which the medicine is not (yet) registered. Sometimes a medicine already approved for a specific condition also turns out to be effective for a completely different condition. Research into these types of new applications is called drug rediscovery, internationally often referred to as drug repurposing.
For commercial parties, investing in this type of research is usually unattractive, especially when the medicine is no longer under patent. Therefore, ZonMw, through the Rational Pharmacotherapy program (GGG), is making public funds available to facilitate this. It is crucial that the medicine ultimately becomes available to patients at a socially acceptable price.
Ideally, a producer or manufacturer will eventually join a drug rediscovery process. This allows for further collaboration, within a coalition, on the development and registration of the medicine for the new indication. It is important that you, as the applicant, carefully consider the next steps required to actually get the drug to the patient: in the right place, at the right time and for the right price.
Informatiepagina subsidieronde Drug Rediscovery Ronde 8 | ZonMw