Researchers at the University of Auckland have identified an affordable drug called pirvinium, developed in the 1960s, that can be reformulated to help treat colorectal cancer. This finding appears in a study published by Molecular Cancer Treatments.
The strategy of repurposing older medicines at new doses and in different combinations offers a promising path toward faster treatment options, which can accelerate the pace of clinical testing for various diseases. In the current study, the team examined several anti cancer agents that are nearing patent expiration. Laboratory tests revealed that combining two of these drugs markedly enhances the effectiveness of colorectal cancer therapy.
The researchers note that the groundwork for their work was laid by recent advances in understanding how colorectal cancer develops. In particular, certain subtypes rely on the growth of new blood vessels and involve the proteins BRAF and beta human catenin. The team identified existing drugs that specifically target these pathways.
The most notable combination identified is axitinib with vemurafenib, which showed the greatest improvement in treatment outcomes in the tests. Both drugs are already used for other cancers and are nearing generic status, which is expected to substantially reduce treatment costs. Because these medications have completed clinical trial phases, their adoption for colorectal cancer could proceed rapidly.
Additionally, pirvinium, an inexpensive antiparasitic medication from the 1960s, appears to boost treatment effectiveness by acting on the beta catenin pathway. The study highlights how older drugs can be repurposed to address colorectal cancer more efficiently, potentially broadening access to effective therapy for patients in North America. The findings also align with ongoing efforts to shorten the time from discovery to clinical use by leveraging preexisting safety and pharmacology data.