Researchers at Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH Bath) have launched an important clinical trial, not for a new chemical entity, but for two well-known, existing medications: isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol. Their goal is to see if these drugs can prevent recurrent strokes and cognitive decline in patients who have suffered a lacunar (ischaemic) stroke.
This is a critical area of unmet need. Lacunar strokes, caused by small vessel disease, are common and can have devastating consequences on a person's thinking, balance, and mobility. As RUH Bath notes, there are currently **no dedicated treatments for small vessel disease itself**.
This study is a perfect example of drug repurposing (or reprofiling)—a core strategy in modern pharmaceutical science. Instead of spending billions and over a decade on the traditional drug discovery pipeline, researchers identify existing, approved drugs that may have benefits for other diseases.
Here’s the science in brief:
As Stroke Research Nurse Hayley Stoney stated, this study has the potential "to make a real difference to the quality of life" for millions. It represents a faster, lower-risk, and more efficient path from the lab to the patient.
Finding new life for existing drugs is one of the most exciting frontiers in medicine, offering hope for countless conditions that currently lack effective treatments.
Drug repurposing and innovative clinical trial designs are at the heart of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Virtual Event on March 11–12, 2026.
Join the researchers, pharmacologists, and industry leaders who are accelerating the development of new therapies. This is your opportunity to connect with the experts who are turning established science into new breakthroughs.
We look forward to welcoming you!
