One drug, many uses. Good idea?

This article implicates that, while new uses for old drugs are terrifically attractive for drug companies this somehow lessens the drive for them to find new original substances. Of course it is nice to get a new market without paying USD 500 000 000 which is the going rate for a new drug through all its phases of testing but somebody has forgotten that the true finders of new uses for old drugs are...

The important questions is :Is  there clinical evidence in support  of safety and efficacy of  the drug for the treatment of  a given condition? Whether it is a  "new" or an "old" drug is irrelevant.  Besides, we may know more about an old drug. 

This article is important because it describes a growing concern that is not well known to the investment community or the public. Due to increased pressure from the generic companies, the FDA, and the public many companies are finding new uses for older medications. This is very true in dermatology and other smaller specialties where the cost of new drug development is higher than many smaller companies...

Lilly has devoted substantial energy/expense in developing Cymbalta for many indications.  Is this at the expense of developing novel agents? 

‘One drug, many uses’ can make lots of sense clinically and commercially.   Seeking additional FDA indications for a specific drug has obvious business benefits:  greater revenue stream, improved branding, potentially longer market exclusivity, greater franchising potential of the drug into ‘improved’ formulations/uses (ie, Astra Zeneca’s Seroquel and then Seroquel XR; or GSK’s Wellbutrin...

When drug studies are done some unexpected findings emerge. If these results can show promise and expand drug use they should be persued as the cost will likely be less than developing a whole new drug.

No; it would not benefit to pharma companies ONLY to look at newer options all the time to come. Infact, Alternate Drug market is fast emerging and it has almost outpaced existing drug delivery system. Drug Protocols and Prescription Drug Manuals sometimes donot recommend or it even debars usage of alternate medicine. Why alternate medicine at all..is the right question. Pharma companies spending...

The public benefits when new uses are found for old drugs.  The benefit comes more quickly as the pharma company does not need to go through as many early studies to allow the approval for the drug use. However, I believe that pharma realizes that new uses for old drugs is not the way to make the returns on investment that they desire, nor is it the way to put there name before the...