Research and pilot analysis of bevacizumab repurposing potential and its impact in clinical practice

Abstract

Repurposing of drugs is a strategy for discovering new uses for already authorized or tested medicines outside their original indications. Bevacizumab is humanized antibody, observed to have anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) effect, which is indicated for colorectal, lung and other types of carcinomas. We conducted research on the historical development and current regulatory status of bevacizumab. In addition, analysis of the data on completed clinical trials with bevacizumab showing potential for repurposing was performed. The analysis for the period 01.01.2019-31.12.2022 found 131 trials, 42 (32%) of which have potential for repurposing. The development and influence of bevacizumab-biosimilar medicines was studied in the whole clinical trials database with biosimilars included in 23 trials (15 in Phase I and 8 in Phase III). The performed research and analysis show that bevacizumab with its pharmacological mechanism of action can affect crucial point in the pathogenesis of different diseases. In addition to this, the process of repurposing can discover new pathways of treatment for patients, shorten the time for reaching the market, lower public healthcare expenses and companies’ budgets. With all the results pointed out, this biotechnological product has potential for repurposing in broad spectrum of new indications.

Keywords:

• Bevacizumab
• repurposing
• clinical trials
• biosimilars

Authors’ contributions statement

Conceptualization: IG, VG-K; Supervision EG, IG; Methodology: AI, VG-K; Visualization: AI, VB; Writing—original draft preparation AI, VG-K; Writing—review and editing VG-K, EG, VB, IG; Funding acquisition: IG, VG-K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study is available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study is part of European Union-NextGenerationEU, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, project № BG-RRP-2.004-0004-C01.