A new publication by REMEDi4ALL partners in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology introduces a comprehensive framework for evaluating drug repurposing projects. The work responds to the need for a more consistent approach to assessing project value, bringing together existing methodologies into a structured set of criteria to support evidence-informed funding and investment decisions.
Drug repurposing has the potential to deliver new treatment options more quickly and efficiently by finding new uses for existing medicines. However, deciding which repurposing projects are most promising remains a complex challenge. Funders, investors and other stakeholders often assess projects using different criteria, making it difficult to compare opportunities consistently and transparently.
To address this, REMEDi4ALL consortium members Syreon Research Institute, ZonMw and Anticancer Fund alongside EATRIS and Beacon for Rare Diseases have published a comprehensive framework designed to support the evaluation of drug repurposing projects. The work brings together existing assessment approaches into a structured set of criteria that can help funders make more evidence-informed decisions about which projects to support.
Bringing consistency to drug repurposing funding decisions
One of the challenges facing the drug repurposing ecosystem is that different funding organisations often use different approaches when evaluating project proposals. While these methods may work within individual organisations, the absence of a shared framework can make it difficult to compare projects, align stakeholder expectations and prioritise investment opportunities.
This new study set out to explore how drug repurposing projects are currently assessed and whether a more structured and transparent framework could be developed to reflect the specific characteristics of repurposing initiatives. By consolidating insights from multiple funders and stakeholders, the REMEDi4ALL consortium aimed to create a practical resource that could support decision-making across a range of funding contexts.
Developing a comprehensive assessment framework
To establish the framework, authors reviewed assessment approaches and organisational documentation from 10 funding organisations. This was complemented by a targeted review of the scientific literature and discussions with stakeholders and REMEDi4ALL partners.
The process identified 330 candidate criteria used across different organisations and settings. These criteria were then reviewed, consolidated, and refined through an iterative process to create a practical and clearly defined framework tailored to drug repurposing.
Five domains for assessing project value
The final framework consists of 37 assessment criteria organised into five domains:
- Basic Enablers
- Expected Benefits
- Technical Implementation
- Business Opportunity
- Fundraising Profile
Together, these domains provide a comprehensive way of considering both the value and feasibility of a drug repurposing project from different funder perspectives. Each criterion is accompanied by a clear definition to support consistent interpretation and application.
From research to practical application
The assessment criteria have been translated into a freely available practical tool that enables users to select, weight and score criteria according to their strategic priorities and the maturity of the project under consideration. This flexibility allows the framework to be adapted to different funding contexts while maintaining a structured and transparent assessment process.
According to the authors, the framework can help support more consistent project evaluation, improve alignment between funders and other stakeholders, and facilitate better prioritisation of promising repurposing initiatives.
Supporting the future of drug repurposing
As drug repurposing grows in popularity, improving how projects are assessed and prioritised will be important in ensuring that the most promising opportunities are identified and appropriately supported. By providing a transparent, adaptable and openly available framework, this work could contribute to a stronger and more coordinated ecosystem for drug repurposing.
The framework and accompanying user guidance are available through REMEDi4ALL and are intended to support funders, researchers and other stakeholders involved in advancing repurposed medicines towards patient benefit.
The study, Defining a comprehensive set of value assessment criteria for funders of drug repurposing initiatives, was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Readers can also access the REMEDi4ALL framework for judging the project value of repurposed medicines and user guidance via the REMEDi4ALL website.
