Physician-Scientist @ UPenn | National Bestselling Author, Chasing My Cure | Co-Founder @ Every Cure & CDCN
Horizontal thinking saved my life… I didn't have $1 billion or ten years to develop a new drug from scratch. My survival hinged on one critical strategy: identifying and repurposing an existing drug made for another disease to treat my own. This approach isn't just a personal story; it's a powerful example of 'horizontal thinking'—a concept many of us apply without even realizing it. Horizontal thinking is about looking across the spectrum of problems and solutions, rather than tunneling vertically into a single area. It's about exploring what already exists in parallel fields or industries to solve the problems we face. Drug repurposing is a perfect example of this and is why we are so passionate about our mission at Every Cure. How has thinking 'horizontally' helped you solve problems in unexpected ways?
Have you ever used horizontal thinking? Let us know in the comments below. When Every Cure co-founder David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc was diagnosed with a rare disease with no known treatments, he knew one thing for certain: “I didn't have a billion dollars and ten years to develop a new drug from scratch.” Fajgenbaum realized he’d need to employ horizontal thinking, which involves taking a solution from one problem and applying it to another. “Repurposing drugs, which is what I did to save my life, and we've done now repeatedly for many other patients, is the ultimate horizontal thinking problem.” Horizontal thinking doesn’t just apply to medicine says Fajgenbaum. Next time you’re facing a problem ask yourself, “Is there a similar challenge that I could learn from that could help me solve the problem I’m facing?” Watch the full episode of #Catalyst here: https://lnkd.in/e-6iKmgH
Interesting statistics about drug repurposing: “Drug repurposing: a systematic review on root causes, barriers and facilitators” https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-022-08272-z
Yes yes yes! Thank you for the passion and purpose! Every Cure is inspiring! Let’s keep expanding #drugrepurposing #clinicaltrials #clinicalresearch #raredisease #cure David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc Building connections for solutions through #patientengagement, #patientempowerment! #rpm #remotepatientmonitoring #decentralizedclinicaltrials
Dr. Fajenbaum, Thank for this wonderful insight into an open mindset. You’re ability to view a dilemma from multiple perspectives should be commended. Your ability to course correct and find a solution is applicable to any system. Congratulations on saving your life as well as many of your patients. Bravo.
Horizontal thinking is the key to solving all problems.
This doctor's mode of horizontal thinking to find better uses for existing medicines, should become a paradigm for the NIH, which is locked into rigid archaic and lethargic methods and policies.
Very cool video! Glad you are doing well!
Will you be working on long COVID with drug repurposing?
Pharmacy Manager | Healthcare Leadership
8moDr. Fajgenbaum, Thank you for sharing your deeply moving journey. Your story, marked by both profound adversity and remarkable innovation through horizontal thinking, is incredibly inspiring. It shares a significant stride that can and should be made in medical science, offering new hope to those with rare diseases. What a transformative thinking in healthcare and indeed insightful.