The Medicines Repurposing Program – a critical perspective
Narcyz Ghinea
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Abstract
The Medicines Repurposing Program was launched on 1 March 2024. It provides a pathway for registering and subsidising off-label medicines of significant public health benefit but which sponsors have no financial incentive to pursue. This article provides a short overview and critical analysis of the program. One concern that emerges is that commercial sponsors still retain de facto veto power over which off-label uses are prioritised and so have the capacity to sway the process. Simple suggestions are proposed to help mitigate this risk.
Keywords: access to medicines, commercial determinants of health, health policy, health technology assessment, inequity, medicine repurposing, off-label medicines, orphan drugs, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, pharmaceutical regulation, Therapeutic Goods Administration.
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