Using Existing Drugs in New Ways to Treat & Cure Diseases of Brain & Body | Dr. David Fajgenbaum
Huberman Lab
Nov 03
Using Existing Drugs in New Ways to Treat & Cure Diseases of Brain & Body | Dr. David Fajgenbaum
Using Existing Drugs in New Ways to Treat & Cure Diseases of Brain & Body | Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Huberman Lab
Nov 03
Dr. David Fajgenbaum's journey from a terminal diagnosis to becoming a pioneer in drug repurposing reveals a powerful, underutilized strategy in modern medicine. Facing a rare and deadly disease with no approved treatment, he turned to science, self-agency, and innovation to save his own life—uncovering a broader potential for existing drugs to treat conditions far beyond their original use.
Dr. Fajgenbaum’s experience with Castleman disease led him to discover that FDA-approved drugs can be repurposed to treat other diseases, often with remarkable success. He highlights cases like aspirin reducing cancer recurrence, lidocaine lowering breast cancer mortality, and colchicine preventing heart attacks—applications overlooked due to financial and systemic barriers. Through his nonprofit Every Cure, he uses AI and biomedical databases to systematically match existing drugs to new diseases, accelerating discovery without the cost and delay of traditional drug development. He emphasizes patient empowerment, urging individuals to engage with disease organizations and question standard care. His work underscores the importance of collaboration, physician education, and public involvement in unlocking hidden treatments. While repurposed drugs like rapamycin show promise for longevity and prevention, he cautions against unproven use without evidence. Ultimately, Fajgenbaum advocates for a shift in medical mindset—one that values curiosity, resilience, and proactive exploration of existing therapies to transform outcomes for rare and untreatable conditions.
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Effective treatments exist for many 'untreatable' diseases through drug repurposing.
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Many FDA-approved drugs can treat more diseases than they are currently indicated for.
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Lidocaine reduced five-year breast cancer mortality by 29% in a large Indian trial
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Lithium may protect against Alzheimer's, but doctors avoid discussing it due to liability
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Starting kids on a TNF inhibitor can prevent strokes, but the knowledge isn't widely spread.
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Biomedical knowledge graphs enable discovery of new drug uses
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Michael responded well to the first PD-1 inhibitor treatment for angiosarcoma and entered a nine-year remission.
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Aspirin deserves more attention for preventing colon cancer and heart attacks.
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Dose adjustment of colchicine was crucial for its effectiveness in reducing heart disease risk
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After 11 weeks of worsening symptoms, a pathologist diagnosed Castleman disease, an atypical lymphoproliferative disorder with autoimmune features.
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Blocking cytokine production extends life in sleep-deprived mice
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Felt better with each chemo dose even as the immune system was destroyed
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Scientists are incentivized to discover new things rather than apply existing knowledge broadly.
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Rapamycin has kept me in remission for over 11 years, but its use for longevity may be misguided due to immunosuppression.
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I can endure pain one moment at a time, just like in football.
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We found 14 repurposed drugs over 11 years and published a breakthrough case in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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TNF inhibitor helped a Castleman's patient achieve remission.
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Rapamycin was discovered in the soil of Rapa Nui and originally explored as an antifungal before becoming an immunosuppressant.
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AI can connect unconnected truths from disparate experiments to accelerate drug discovery
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Stimulating the anterior mid-cingulate cortex makes people feel challenged and motivated to act.
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People can contribute to Every Cure by submitting drug ideas, joining as experts, donating, or sharing on social media.