Drug Repurposing

Global Drug Repurposing Market to Reach US$37.3 Billion by 2030

The global market for Drug Repurposing estimated at US$29.4 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$37.3 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Oncology Indication, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 4.4% CAGR and reach US$20.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the CNS Diseases Indication segment is estimated at 4.3% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$8.0 Billion While China is Forecast to Grow at 7.5% CAGR

The Drug Repurposing market in the U.S. is estimated at US$8.0 Billion in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$7.6 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 7.5% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.6% and 3.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 2.4% CAGR.

Global Drug Repurposing Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Why Is Drug Repurposing Gaining Renewed Attention in Modern Therapeutics?
Drug repurposing—also known as drug repositioning—involves identifying new therapeutic uses for existing or previously shelved drugs. This approach is experiencing a renaissance as pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and health authorities seek faster, more cost-effective pathways to address unmet medical needs. Traditional drug development can take over a decade and cost billions, with high rates of clinical failure. In contrast, repurposed drugs have already cleared significant safety and pharmacokinetic hurdles, enabling developers to bypass early-stage trials and significantly reduce time to market. This has made repurposing a highly attractive strategy, particularly in areas like rare diseases, oncology, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.

The COVID-19 pandemic further propelled interest in repurposing, as drugs like remdesivir, dexamethasone, and hydroxychloroquine were rapidly evaluated for efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. The crisis showcased how regulatory bodies could fast-track repurposed drugs through Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs), highlighting a new precedent for accelerated pathways. Furthermore, the success of drugs such as thalidomide (reintroduced for multiple myeloma) and sildenafil (originally developed for hypertension, now widely used for erectile dysfunction) have demonstrated the broad clinical and commercial value of this strategy. These examples underscore why drug repurposing is increasingly viewed as a vital component of modern pharmaceutical R&D.

What Are the Emerging Trends Transforming the Drug Repurposing Landscape?
A major trend reshaping the repurposing market is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into drug discovery pipelines. Computational models can now analyze massive datasets—ranging from genomic data to real-world evidence and electronic health records—to identify novel drug-disease relationships. AI-driven platforms are enabling in silico screening of compound libraries to prioritize candidates for preclinical and clinical evaluation. This is especially impactful in rare disease treatment and precision oncology, where traditional pipelines often struggle due to limited patient populations and high R&D costs.

Collaborative consortia and public-private partnerships are also on the rise. Initiatives like the NIH’s NCATS (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences) and Open Targets are pooling data and resources across academia, industry, and government to accelerate repurposing efforts. Additionally, patent expiration of blockbuster drugs is fueling new interest in repurposing by generics and specialty pharma companies. Regulatory frameworks are evolving too—efforts to provide clearer guidance for 505(b)(2) approvals in the U.S. and adaptive licensing models in Europe are making it easier to navigate the intellectual property and clinical validation landscape. These trends are creating fertile ground for innovation, collaboration, and accelerated drug development across disease areas.

Which Therapeutic Areas Are Benefiting Most from Repurposing Strategies?
The impact of drug repurposing is most visible in complex and underserved therapeutic areas. In oncology, for instance, repurposed drugs are being explored as adjuvants or second-line treatments. Metformin (a diabetes drug), propranolol (a beta-blocker), and itraconazole (an antifungal) have shown anticancer potential in various studies. In neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, drugs targeting inflammation, cholesterol metabolism, and mitochondrial function are being repositioned to slow disease progression—areas where novel therapies have struggled. This repurposing model offers new hope in high-failure domains by leveraging known pharmacodynamics to target secondary pathways.

In infectious diseases, especially with rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), repositioned antivirals and antibiotics are filling critical gaps. For example, certain anticancer agents have shown unexpected antibacterial or antifungal effects, while psychiatric drugs are being investigated for their immunomodulatory roles in viral infections. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, also stand to benefit, as researchers uncover overlapping pathways with other disease classes. Even mental health treatments are seeing cross-utility—ketamine’s use in treatment-resistant depression is a prime example. These cross-therapeutic applications are broadening the value proposition of many legacy drugs, supporting their reintegration into modern treatment paradigms.

What Is Driving Growth and Strategic Investment in Drug Repurposing?
The growth in the drug repurposing market is driven by several factors related to technological enablement, regulatory facilitation, and evolving pharmaceutical strategies. AI and bioinformatics platforms are significantly improving the success rate of repurposing projects by predicting mechanisms of action and identifying off-target effects with high precision. The availability of large-scale biomedical datasets—including omics profiles, disease registries, and patient-level data—provides fertile ground for cross-indication mapping and drug efficacy modeling. These technologies reduce the risk, cost, and time traditionally associated with de novo drug development.

End-use adoption is also accelerating. Biotechnology firms are increasingly pursuing repurposing as a core business model, while large pharma companies are integrating repurposing into life-cycle management to extend the value of off-patent or low-performing assets. Regulatory bodies are introducing streamlined pathways for approvals—such as the 505(b)(2) route in the U.S.—which allows developers to leverage existing safety and efficacy data while only requiring supplemental clinical evidence for new indications. This has created a favorable environment for licensing, joint ventures, and venture capital investment in repurposing ventures. Furthermore, patient advocacy groups and rare disease foundations are lobbying for and funding repurposing studies, driving both awareness and clinical momentum. These combined forces are ensuring that drug repurposing remains a strategic and rapidly growing pillar in the global pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Drug Repurposing market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Disease Indication (Oncology, CNS Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Other Disease Indications); Approach Type (Disease-Centric Approach, Target-Centric Approach, Drug-Centric Approach); End-Use (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Diseases, Other End-Uses)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 41 Featured) -

• AbbVie Inc.
• Algernon Pharmaceuticals
• Amgen Inc.
• AstraZeneca PLC
• Biogen Inc.
• BioXcel Therapeutics Inc.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
• Every Cure
• Exscientia Ltd.
• GSK plc
• Healx Ltd.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Melior Discovery
• Novartis AG
• Pfizer Inc.
• Rejuvenate Biomed NV
• Retrotope Inc.
• SOM Biotech S.L.
• Tonix Pharmaceuticals
• United Therapeutics Corp.

TARIFF IMPACT FACTOR

Our new release incorporates impact of tariffs on geographical markets as we predict a shift in competitiveness of companies based on HQ country, manufacturing base, exports and imports (finished goods and OEM). This intricate and multifaceted market reality will impact competitors by artificially increasing the COGS, reducing profitability, reconfiguring supply chains, amongst other micro and macro market dynamics.

We are diligently following expert opinions of leading Chief Economists (14,949), Think Tanks (62), Trade & Industry bodies (171) worldwide, as they assess impact and address new market realities for their ecosystems. Experts and economists from every major country are tracked for their opinions on tariffs and how they will impact their countries.

We expect this chaos to play out over the next 2-3 months and a new world order is established with more clarity. We are tracking these developments on a real time basis.

As we release this report, U.S. Trade Representatives are pushing their counterparts in 183 countries for an early closure to bilateral tariff negotiations. Most of the major trading partners also have initiated trade agreements with other key trading nations, outside of those in the works with the United States. We are tracking such secondary fallouts as supply chains shift.

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APRIL 2025: NEGOTIATION PHASE

Our April release addresses the impact of tariffs on the overall global market and presents market adjustments by geography. Our trajectories are based on historic data and evolving market impacting factors.

JULY 2025 FINAL TARIFF RESET

Complimentary Update: Our clients will also receive a complimentary update in July after a final reset is announced between nations. The final updated version incorporates clearly defined Tariff Impact Analyses.

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