We’re launching Lyria 3.5 in Google Flow Music, with advances across musicality, lyrics, vocals, and creative control
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Jun 18·5 min read
Hospitals and universities repurposing drugs at 90% lower cost
TL;DR
Pharmaceutical drug development is often prohibitively expensive, limiting access to new treatments. Hospitals and universities are conducting late-stage clinical trials for repurposed drugs at costs up to 90% lower than traditional methods.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers and researchers can leverage drug repurposing strategies to innovate cost-effective healthcare solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Explore drug repurposing for innovative treatments.
- Collaborate with universities on clinical trials.
- Consider cost-effective healthcare solutions.
- Stay informed about non-patent research opportunities.
Full Summary
Pharmaceutical companies typically face high costs in drug development, which can hinder access to new therapies. Research from King's College London highlights a parallel system where hospitals and universities repurpose existing drugs, conducting late-stage clinical trials at significantly reduced costs—less than 10% of what pharmaceutical companies spend.
Examples include using a cancer drug for blindness, repurposing a breast cancer treatment for prevention, and applying an old anti-inflammatory for Covid treatment. This research was published in the Cambridge Law Journal and emphasizes the potential of this 'hidden' research system, which operates outside the patent framework.
The findings suggest that this approach could regularly yield affordable treatments for society. The implications for engineers and researchers include exploring innovative drug repurposing strategies and collaborating with academic institutions.