Drug Repurposing Market, By Deployment Mode, By Therapeutic Area, By End Use, By Drug Molecules, By Type of Approach, By Route of Administration, By Country, and By Region – Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Market Share & Forecast from 2025-2032

REPORT HIGHLIGHT

Drug Repurposing Market size was valued at US$ 33,018.10 Million in 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 4.30% from 2025 to 2032.

The drug repurposing market focuses on identifying and developing new therapeutic uses for existing or previously approved drugs, allowing for faster and more cost-effective treatment development than traditional drug discovery. Rising R&D costs and the urgent need to accelerate therapies for complex and rare diseases are the primary drivers of market growth. The increasing use of artificial intelligence and real-world data to discover novel drug-disease relationships is a major market trend. However, regulatory uncertainties, intellectual property limitations, and data validation challenges all act as significant barriers. Despite these obstacles, a greater emphasis on rare diseases, oncology, and emerging infectious conditions presents significant opportunities for drug repurposing, which reduces development timelines, lowers failure risk, and maximizes the clinical value of existing pharmaceutical assets.

Drug Repurposing Market- Market Dynamics
Rising Healthcare Expenditure Driving Drug Repurposing Market Growth

The increasing level of global healthcare expenditure is a major driver of the drug repurposing market's growth. Healthcare spending includes prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and healthcare administration, and it is increasing due to rising medical costs, technological advancements, and increased demand for healthcare services. Increased healthcare spending allows for more investment in research activities, clinical trials, and data-driven studies, all of which are critical for discovering new therapeutic indications for existing drugs. This trend benefits drug repurposing significantly because it provides a less expensive and faster alternative to traditional drug discovery. According to the 2021-2030 National Health Expenditure report published by the United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in March 2022, national health spending is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 5.1%, reaching nearly USD 6.8 trillion by 2030. Rising Medicare and Medicaid spending boosts funding availability for repurposing research, hastening market expansion.

Drug Repurposing Market- Segmentation Analysis:

The Global Drug Repurposing Market is segmented on the basis of Deployment Mode, Therapeutic Area, End Use, Drug Molecules, Type of Approach, Route of Administration, and Region.

Oncology represents a significant share of the market, driven by the high global prevalence of cancer and the substantial unmet need for more effective and accessible treatment options. A growing number of existing oncology drugs, as well as therapies originally approved for non-oncologic indications, are being evaluated for new cancer applications by leveraging their established safety and efficacy profiles to accelerate development timelines. This strategy significantly reduces both the cost and time required to introduce new cancer treatments. For example, in December 2024, researchers at UT Southwestern reported that an FDA-approved therapy for multiple myeloma and lymphoma demonstrated tumor-shrinking effects in patients with KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. In parallel, initiatives such as the ReDO Project are advancing the repurposing of non-cancer drugs for oncology, with a focus on delivering effective, low-toxicity treatment alternatives.

Based on End Use, Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies account for the majority of revenue share. These companies have established infrastructure, extensive R&D capabilities, and regulatory expertise, allowing them to effectively repurpose existing drugs for new indications. Their vast financial resources make it easier to fund clinical trials and acquire promising drug candidates. Furthermore, the growing need to fill gaps in medical care and the demand for low-cost therapies have prompted these companies to investigate repurposing strategies. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved baricitinib in May 2022 for the treatment of hospitalized adults who require varying degrees of respiratory support as a result of COVID-19. This approval followed an earlier Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued in November 2020 for the combination of baricitinib and remdesivir in the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults and pediatric patients. The approval was based on results from the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-2), which showed that the combination therapy shortened recovery time and improved clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients..

Drug Repurposing Market- Geographical Insights

North America dominates the market. The expansion is fueled by advanced research infrastructure, supportive regulatory landscapes, and faster approval for repurposed drugs. In addition, this region is promoting strong collaborations between AI startups, research centers, and large pharmaceutical companies to develop repurposed drugs for various diseases. In August 2025, Fifty 1 AI Labs, a subsidiary of Fifty 1 Labs, Inc., collaborated with LUNR Aerospace to develop AI-powered drug repurposing initiatives for space medicine.

United States Drug Repurposing Market- Country Insights

The United States is the major North American market, driven by a thriving pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry that is investing in AI-powered drug discovery platforms. For example, in September 2025, Massachusetts-based Lila Sciences raised USD 235 million in a Series A round to expand its AI-powered autonomous laboratories. The funds are raised to expand Lila's AI Science Factories in Boston, San Francisco, and London, where AI models develop hypotheses, run experiments, learn from results, and iterate from start to finish. The nation's strong financing environment, combined with mature collaborations between academia and AI solution providers, continues to drive large-scale repurposing programs.

Drug Repurposing Market- Competitive Landscape:

The drug repurposing market is distinguished by collaborations among pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, research institutions, and technology providers aimed at discovering new therapeutic applications for existing medications. Strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and investments in advanced computational platforms that accelerate drug repurposing research all have an impact on competition. Companies are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence, real-world evidence, and big data analytics to improve target identification, streamline clinical validation, and lower development costs. Regulatory alignment and shared research frameworks also have an impact on competitive positioning. Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, and Bayer AG are key players driving innovation and commercial activity in the drug repurposing market. These organizations use extensive compound libraries, global R&D capabilities, and strategic alliances to broaden their repurposed drug portfolios and increase market visibility.

In April 2025, Novartis agreed to acquire Regulus Therapeutics, a San Diego-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on microRNA therapies. Faburden, Regulus' leading asset, targets miR-17 and has the potential to be a first-in-class treatment for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This acquisition complements Novartis' focus on renal disease and will increase its expertise in this therapeutic area. The acquisition expands Novartis' portfolio by incorporating novel approaches to treating kidney diseases.

Recent Developments:

In April 2025, Qualthera Health Corporation, which is dedicated to establishing a nationwide network of quality, patient-centered compounding pharmacies, has announced the official launch of Qualthera Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Co., a research-driven subsidiary focused on drug repurposing and innovative delivery systems. This expansion is a significant step forward in accelerating pharmaceutical innovation by leveraging real-world patient insights to create new therapies with streamlined development.
In June 2024, BioXcel Therapeutics used artificial intelligence-based drug repurposing to discover new applications for drug candidates that had stalled in development. The company accelerates therapeutic innovation by integrating approved and established drugs, clinically validated candidates, big data, and proprietary machine learning algorithms. It is focused on research and development costs, market access, and growth in neurology and immuno-oncology within the drug repurposing market.

SCOPE OF THE REPORT

The scope of this report covers the market by its major segments, which include as follows:

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET KEY PLAYERS- DETAILED COMPETITIVE INSIGHTS

Eli Lilly and Company
GSK plc
Amgen Inc.
Biogen Inc.
Pfizer Inc.
Roche Holding AG
Novartis AG
AbbVie
Amgen
Boehringer Ingelheim
Cyclica
GlaxoSmithKline
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Melior Discovery
Pharnext
Recursion Pharmaceuticals
Revolution Medicines
Sanofi
Schwarz Pharma
Valence Discovery
Bayer AG
Teva Pharmaceutical
Others

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET, BY DEPLOYMENT MODE- MARKET ANALYSIS, 2019 - 2032

On-premises
Cloud-based

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET, BY THERAPEUTIC AREA- MARKET ANALYSIS, 2019 - 2032

Oncology
Cardiovascular Diseases
Infectious Diseases
Rare Diseases
Neurology
Immunology
Metabolic Disorders
Others

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET, BY END USE- MARKET ANALYSIS, 2019 - 2032

Contract Research Organizations (CROs)
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
Healthcare Providers
Academic & Research Institutes
Others

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET, BY DRUG MOLECULES- MARKET ANALYSIS, 2019 - 2032

Peptides
Biologics
Vaccines
Conventional Small Molecules
Others

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET, BY TYPE OF APPROACH- MARKET ANALYSIS, 2019 - 2032

Target-centric
Disease-centric
Drug-centric

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET, BY ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION- MARKET ANALYSIS, 2019 - 2032

Intravenous
Oral
Other routes of administration

GLOBAL DRUG REPURPOSING MARKET, BY REGION- MARKET ANALYSIS, 2019 - 2032

North America
U.S.
Canada
Europe
Germany
UK
France
Italy
Spain
The Netherlands
Sweden
Russia
Poland
Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Indonesia
Thailand
Philippines
Rest of APAC
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Argentina
Colombia
Rest of LATAM
The Middle East and Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Israel
Turkey
Algeria
Egypt
Rest of MEA Show more