REPURPOSED DRUGS
- October 13, 2020
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Subject: Science and tech
Context :The BCG vaccine joins a handful of drugs like remdesivir, favipiravir, dexamethasone that have been repurposed to treat Covid-19.
Concept :
- Drug repurposing is using an approved drug for the treatment of a disease or medical condition other than what it is approved for.
- In surprise pandemics like COVID-19 that have no available ‘cure’, drug repurposing is one of the core research strategies for finding a treatment.
- This method is very useful in addressing the disease quickly since these drugs are approved, readily available off the shelf, their safety for human use is established and their side effect profile is well known
Additional Information:
Drug Controller General of India
- It is responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines and sera in India.
- It comes under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.