New Antimicrobial Approaches: Reuse of Old Drugs

Title:New Antimicrobial Approaches: Reuse of Old Drugs

Volume: 17 Issue: 6

Author(s): Dianella Savoia

Affiliation:

Keywords: Drug-resistance, old drugs, tuberculosis, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, anti-protozoal activity, antiviral activity.

Abstract: The global situation of antibiotic resistance and the reduction of investments in antibiotics research by the pharmaceutical industry suggest the need for specific cost-effective approaches in order to identify drugs for the therapy of many microbial infections. Among the viable alternative antiinfective compounds, drug repurposing, i.e. to find new uses for previously approved medicines, revealed some encouraging in vitro and in vivo results. In this article the reader has a panoramic view of the updated references on the strategies encountered during the repositioning process. New findings are reported about the anti-microbial efficacy of antipsychotic, cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic drugs. This approach may enhance the portfolio of pharmaceutical companies reducing the need for pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies; the development of new uses of old drugs for different infectious diseases, leading to better health for patients, also in poor, tropical countries, appears to be having better results.

Cite this article as:

Savoia Dianella, New Antimicrobial Approaches: Reuse of Old Drugs, Current Drug Targets 2016; 17 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450116666150806124110