1. Scrip
  2. >>Business
  3. >>Strategy

Repurposing the Repurposing Business Model

 
• By Mark Ratner

Two recent examples of the difficulties of drug repurposing: Bionaut's ability to find new indications was not sufficient to get a foot in pharma's door without novelty to create barriers to entry to deter fast followers. Sention couldn't generate data fast enough on its L-amphetamine in improving cognitive impairment to counter amphetamine's bad image. (Its second program, even armed with pharma-vetted, baggage-less NCEs in-licensed from Merck, emerged too late to save the company.)

When Greg Gardiner, PhD, looked closely at Bionaut Pharmaceuticals Inc. last November, he saw a problem right away. The start-up was using the proprietary assay system around which it was founded to search for new uses for systemically administered generic drugs. But it was focused on finding new systemic indications, and therefore was not creating any effective product differentiation, Gardiner explains. "I laughed thinking about a drug company doing anything with those drugs."

Bionaut still uses its target-independent, pathway-driven screening tool to identify potential new indications for drugs. (See "Bionaut Pharmaceuticals Inc.," START-UP,...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Strategy

More from Business

Finance Watch: Scorpion Spinout Antares Launches With $177m For Precision Medicines

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Private Company Edition: Antares’ lead asset will enter the clinic in 2026 after Lilly committed up to $2.5bn for Scorpion’s Phase I/II PI3Kα inhibitor STX-478. Also, Amplify raised $200m for its first biotech VC fund and Mosanna raised an $80m series A round, among other financings.

UCB Follows Fellow European Pharmas With Major US Investment

 
• By Kevin Grogan

The Belgian drugmaker is boosting its biologics capacity over the pond.

AstraZeneca Taps Into China’s R&D Engine With CSPC Alliance

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

After in-licensing a cardiovascular candidate last year, AstraZeneca has signed a strategic drug discovery alliance, which could generate billions of dollars in payments to the Chinese firm.