Repurposing Drugs to Target the Diabetes Epidemic

Type 2 diabetes is a rapidly escalating disease requiring new therapeutic options. New technologies, including ‘omics’ platforms, have identified several pathophysiological pathways in diabetes that may be targeted by drugs originally developed for other diseases. Medications with the potential for drug repurposing in diabetes must be either currently in use in humans or late-stage clinical candidates, providing access to information on pharmacology, formulation, and potential toxicity. The approach overcomes many of the hurdles faced with conventional drug identification and testing and can rapidly transition drugs to new disease indications. There is a growing list of medications that have been successfully repurposed as antidiabetic agents. Despite major investment by pharmaceutical companies in conventional drug discovery pipelines, development of new drugs has failed to keep up with the increasing incidence of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Drug repurposing, where existing drugs are applied to a new indication, is gaining momentum as a successful approach to overcome the bottlenecks commonly encountered with conventional approaches. Repurposing takes advantage of available information on the molecular pharmacology of clinical agents to drastically shorten drug development timelines. This review discusses recent advances in the discovery of new antidiabetic agents using repurposing strategies. Despite major investment by pharmaceutical companies in conventional drug discovery pipelines, development of new drugs has failed to keep up with the increasing incidence of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Drug repurposing, where existing drugs are applied to a new indication, is gaining momentum as a successful approach to overcome the bottlenecks commonly encountered with conventional approaches. Repurposing takes advantage of available information on the molecular pharmacology of clinical agents to drastically shorten drug development timelines. This review discusses recent advances in the discovery of new antidiabetic agents using repurposing strategies.