Inventors:
Stephen TC Wong - Houston TX, US
Hong Zhao - Houston TX, US
Guangxu Jin - Houston TX, US
Assignee:
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute - Houston TX
International Classification:
G06F 19/00, C07D 305/14, C07C 233/15, C07D 413/12
US Classification:
544119, 549510, 564218, 702 19
Abstract:
Disclosed are systems biology-based methods for repositioning known pharmaceutical compounds to new indications, through the identification of network-based signatures. In particular, the invention provides new and useful methods for selecting drugs or combinations of drugs (and preferably previously-approved drugs) for use in new therapeutic indications. Also disclosed are methods for identifying anti-breast tumor initiating cell (TIC)-based therapeutics from within populations of target compounds. In illustrative embodiments, the invention provides methods and computer programs for the repositioning of FDA-approved pharmaceutical compounds to new indications using network-based signature analysis coupled with conventional in vitro and in vivo testing of identified drug candidates. The invention also allows identification of drugs or drug combinations for treating unmet medical needs including, for example, “orphan” diseases.