Pharmacopsychiatry 2022; 55(01): 24-29
DOI: 10.1055/a-1686-9620
Review

Opportunities for Drug Repurposing of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Potential Uses in Inflammation, Infection, Cancer, Neuroprotection, and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention

1   Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
,
Charles F. Zorumski
1   Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
,
Angela M. Reiersen
1   Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
,
Ginger E. Nicol
1   Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
,
John Cirrito
2   Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
,
Eric J. Lenze
1   Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
› Author Affiliations
Funding EJL receives research funding from PCORI and COVID Early Treatment Fund Emergent Ventures FastGrants EJL is a consultant for Prodeo EJL and AMR are inventors on a patent application related to COVID- 19 research including sigma-1 receptor agonists CFZ is on the scientific advisory board and receives stock options from Sage Therapeutics This research was supported by National Institutes of Health grant NIH R25 MH112473-01

Abstract

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are safe and widely used for a variety of indications including depressive disorders, anxiety, and chronic pain. Besides inhibiting the serotonin transporter, these medications have broad-spectrum properties in many systems. Their roles have been studied in cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and infectious processes. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of drug repurposing of medications already in use. We conducted a narrative review of current evidence and ongoing research on drug repurposing of SRIs, with a focus on immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and neuroprotective activity. SRIs may have clinical use as repurposed agents for a wide variety of conditions including but not limited to COVID-19, Alzheimer’s disease, and neoplastic processes. Further research, particularly randomized controlled trials, will be necessary to confirm the utility of SRIs for new indications.

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 16 July 2021
Received: 22 October 2021

Accepted: 26 October 2021

Article published online:
07 December 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
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