RARE-NL and ZonMw have started a collaboration to help promising drug repurposing research findings move more effectively towards implementation in practice. The two parties have signed a collaboration agreement for this purpose.

Tailored support

Ongoing drug repurposing projects within ZonMw’s Good Use of Medicines programme can now receive tailored support and guidance from RARE-NL. ZonMw selects the projects that are eligible for this support.

Four projects have already signed up. Over a period of three months, they will receive tailored guidance from RARE-NL. Together with the project teams, RARE-NL will explore which strategies or routes can help translate research findings into actual new treatment options in practice. The aim is to improve and accelerate patient access.

What does the programme involve?

During an initial exploratory meeting, the current status of the project and possible next steps are mapped out. This includes identifying opportunities and points of attention related to socially responsible development and patient access.

RARE-NL then works with the project team on a concrete development and valorisation perspective. This may include:

• Insight into regulatory and clinical next steps.
• Exploration of development and manufacturing routes.
• Support with business and funding strategy.
• Exploration of routes that contribute to broad and sustainable access to the therapy.
• Preparation of materials that can be used for follow-up funding or future collaborations.

Finally, the development plan and possible next steps are discussed, with attention to implementation and the societal positioning of the project.

RARE-NL

RARE-NL is a national collaboration hub in which several university medical centres join forces. RARE-NL focuses on connecting expertise, stimulating collaboration and translating insights from individual initiatives into structural solutions that contribute to the availability of therapies, including for rare diseases and drug repurposing.

ZonMw

ZonMw programmes and funds research and innovation in health, healthcare and wellbeing. It also stimulates knowledge infrastructures and the use of the knowledge developed through its programmes. ZonMw’s Good Use of Medicines programme focuses on the more effective, safer and more efficient use of existing medicines. Within this programme, ZonMw funds various research projects in the field of drug repurposing.

Drug repurposing

Drug repurposing involves clinical research into the effectiveness of a promising new use for an existing medicine. It has the potential to make existing medicines available more quickly and at lower cost for conditions with limited or no adequate treatment options. However, the step from research findings to actual implementation in clinical practice is often complex and requires specialised expertise.