Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessments the Government has made of the procedures for the potential repurposing of medicines; and if he will make a statement.

The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), supported by the Department, is leading work to develop advice for those organisations and individuals who wish to make use of new indications for existing drugs where research has shown robust evidence for the new indication. This advice takes the form of a report which will provide insights into how the drug regulation system and national bodies can support drug repurposing. The report will include recommendations and next steps be driven forward by the AMRC and the medical research charities. We understand the report is due for publication later this year.